Product photography is representative. Micro-dose uses the same compounded semaglutide as our standard program, at smaller starting amounts. Vial size and labeling vary by pharmacy and dose.
Micro-dose
The same compounded semaglutide as our standard program, started at a smaller amount and stepped up in smaller pieces, held longer at each one. Built for people who want to feel their way onto a GLP-1 instead of jumping in.
Want a provider's read on this? Answer a few questions and a US-licensed provider tells you what actually fits, if anything does.
Start the assessmentHow the dose usually goes up
This program starts below the standard program's first dose and adds smaller steps in between the usual ones. Below is the typical pattern. Your provider sets your schedule and can hold you at a dose as long as you both want to.
Typical titration schedule for micro-dose compounded semaglutide
| Weeks | Typical weekly dose | What most people notice |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 6 | 0.125 mg | Below the standard program's starting dose, and held twice as long. The point is to get your body used to the medication with as little disruption as possible. |
| Weeks 7 to 12 | 0.25 mg | The standard program's usual starting dose, reached later and held longer here. Many people notice appetite changes are gentler at this pace. |
| Weeks 13 to 18 | 0.375 mg | A small in-between step most standard programs skip entirely. Only if the previous dose was well tolerated. |
| Week 19 and after | Hold, or step to 0.5 mg | Many people stay in this range indefinitely and are happy there. If you and your provider want to keep going, you can move toward the standard program's schedule from here. |
Same day, every week
Pick a day and stick to it. If you miss a dose and it has been less than five days, take it when you remember. If it has been longer, skip it and go back to your normal day.
Rotate the site
Stomach, thigh, or the back of the arm. Move the spot each week. Your kit comes with everything you need and written instructions.
Graduate when you're ready
If a gentle start goes well and you want more, message your care team about moving to the standard semaglutide program. Nothing about starting here locks you in.
This schedule is a general reference, not medical advice or a prescription. Your provider sets your dose. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
Side effects, plainly
This is the same medication as our standard semaglutide program, so the same side effects and warnings apply. Starting lower and moving slower tends to make the early weeks milder for a lot of people, but it does not remove the risks. Read this part before you start, and ask your provider anything it raises.
The common ones
These are reported often across GLP-1 medications. At micro-dose amounts, patients frequently describe them as milder or shorter, though everyone responds differently.
- Nausea, especially in the first week at a new dose
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Heartburn, burping, or a full feeling that lasts
- Stomach pain or bloating
- Tiredness and headache
- Soreness, redness, or itching at the injection site
What helps: smaller meals, less greasy and fried food, drinking water through the day, and not rushing to the next dose. If a step is still rough at this pace, your provider can hold you even longer.
Call your provider right away if
- You have severe stomach pain that will not go away, with or without vomiting, and it may move to your back. This can be a sign of pancreatitis.
- You cannot keep fluids down, or you feel dizzy, weak, or your urine is very dark. That is dehydration, and it can affect your kidneys.
- You have pain in your upper right stomach, fever, yellowing skin or eyes, or clay-colored stools. That can point to a gallbladder problem.
- You notice a lump or swelling in your neck, trouble swallowing, hoarseness, or shortness of breath.
- You have vision changes, especially if you have diabetic eye disease.
- You have signs of low blood sugar such as shakiness, sweating, confusion, or a fast heartbeat, which is more likely if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea.
- You have a rash, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, or trouble breathing.
If it feels like an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Do not wait on a message.
Who should not take micro-dose semaglutide
Do not use semaglutide, at any dose, if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid carcinoma, or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. In animal studies, semaglutide caused thyroid C-cell tumors. It is not known whether it does that in people.
Tell your provider before you start if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding; if you have had pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, or an eating disorder; if you have gastroparesis or another serious stomach problem; if you have kidney or liver disease; if you have diabetic retinopathy; or if you take insulin, a sulfonylurea, or any other medication for diabetes. Semaglutide slows how fast your stomach empties, which can change how other oral medications are absorbed, so list everything you take including birth control and supplements.
Semaglutide is not a treatment for type 1 diabetes and is not for people with a history of severe allergic reaction to semaglutide or any ingredient in the formulation. A lower starting dose does not change any of these warnings.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Compounded semaglutide is prepared by a licensed compounding pharmacy and is not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Weight-loss results vary and are not guaranteed. This page is general information, not medical advice, and it does not replace a conversation with your provider. Medication is prescribed only if a licensed provider determines it is appropriate after an evaluation. Before you start, you will review and sign our telehealth consent.
Micro-dose or the standard program?
Same medication, different pace. Neither one is the "real" version and neither is a compromise. The honest short answer is that this is about your comfort with a new medication, not about who is more serious.
| Micro-dose | Standard semaglutide | |
|---|---|---|
| Medication | Compounded semaglutide | Compounded semaglutide |
| Program price | From $249 a month | From $99 a month |
| Starting dose | 0.125 mg | 0.25 mg |
| Pace of increases | Smaller steps, held longer | Standard steps and timing |
| Best for | First-time GLP-1 users who want to go slow, or anyone who has had a rough time with medications before | People who tolerate the standard pace well or have used a GLP-1 before |
| Switching later | Message your care team to move to the standard schedule whenever you're ready | You can also slow down to a gentler pace at any time |
This comparison is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a claim that either pace works better for you. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Your provider chooses your pace based on your history and how you respond. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
Still deciding? You do not have to know what you want. That is what the provider review is for.
Start the assessmentWhat patients on micro-dose say
Individual experiences. They are not a promise of what will happen for you.
"I read about the nausea online and almost talked myself out of trying anything. Starting this low meant I barely noticed the first month. Small wins, but real ones."
Verified patient · results vary"A GLP-1 knocked me flat the first time I tried it somewhere else. My provider here started me way lower than that and I got to the same dose eventually, just three months slower and without the misery."
Verified patient · results vary"I started here because I was scared of the side effects, then felt fine and asked to move to the standard program after four months. The switch was one message, nothing complicated."
Verified patient · results varyQuestions about micro-dose
Is micro-dose a weaker or different drug?
No. It is the exact same compounded semaglutide used in our standard program. The difference is entirely in the amount and pace: you start lower, the steps between doses are smaller, and each one is held longer. Your provider can move you to the standard schedule at any point.
Will I lose weight as fast as someone on the standard program?
We cannot promise a timeline either way. Results vary and are not guaranteed, and appetite changes generally show up as your dose rises. A slower ramp usually means changes arrive more gradually too. Plenty of patients are fine with that trade for a more comfortable start, and plenty graduate to the standard pace once they're ready.
Who is this actually for?
People starting their first GLP-1 who would rather ease in than jump to the usual dose, and people who tried a GLP-1 before and found the side effects harder than expected. If you already tolerate a standard dose well, our standard semaglutide program may get you further, faster, for less monthly cost.
Can I switch to the standard program later?
Yes. Message your care team whenever you feel ready to move faster, and your provider reviews your history at that point and decides how to adjust your schedule. Nothing about starting on micro-dose locks you into it.
What does the $249 cover, and what is not included?
It covers your provider visit and review, your medication when it is prescribed, dose changes, injection supplies, monthly check-ins, unlimited messaging with your care team, and shipping. It does not cover lab work if your provider orders it outside our program, or care from other clinicians. No insurance is billed. You are not charged at all if a provider decides a GLP-1 is not appropriate for you.
Does starting low mean fewer side effects?
Often, yes, since lower doses generally produce milder gastrointestinal side effects for most people. It does not remove any of the underlying risks or warnings that apply to semaglutide at any dose. Read the safety section on this page before you start, and call your provider right away if anything serious comes up.
Which states can you ship to?
Nationwide. Medication ships from a US licensed pharmacy and typically arrives in 3 to 5 days after a provider prescribes. Details are on the shipping page.
How long until it shows up?
A licensed provider usually reviews your intake within 24 to 48 hours. If you are approved, your medication ships from a US-licensed pharmacy and generally arrives in 3 to 5 days in plain packaging with no branding on the outside.
Still have a question? Message our care team or read the full FAQ.
Find out if a gentle start is a fit
The health check takes about two minutes. A US-licensed provider reads it, usually within 24 to 48 hours, and tells you either way.
Checking if you qualify is free. You only pay if a provider prescribes.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Medication is prescribed only if a licensed provider determines treatment is appropriate after an evaluation. Results vary and are not guaranteed. Semaglutide, at any dose, is not for everyone. Do not use it if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid carcinoma or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, and tell your provider if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, or if you have a history of pancreatitis. Program pricing shown is the monthly cost and includes the provider visit, prescribed medication, dose titration, monthly check-ins, and shipping. No insurance is billed. We ship nationwide from a US licensed pharmacy. This page is general information and not medical advice.