Individuals using weight loss medications are being advised to steer clear of a new microdosing trend gaining traction as the holiday season approaches. This practice involves administering smaller doses than prescribed in an attempt to prolong the use of injection pens. Such behavior can lead to numerous issues, including the risk of injection pens expiring when left open too long and the dangers of needle reuse. Furthermore, there is limited research on whether administering smaller doses more frequently provides any actual benefits.

Jason Murphy, the Head of Pharmacy and a weight loss expert at Chemist4U, warned, “One significant issue with microdosing is the reuse of needles. Individuals taking smaller doses will require more frequent injections, which carries serious health risks if needles are not replaced with each use.”

When a needle pierces the skin, its sharpness is reduced, potentially causing future injections to be more painful, leading to bruising, swelling, and tenderness. Persistently using dulled needles can result in lasting tissue irritation, making subsequent injections increasingly painful and difficult.

A previously used needle can also become partially clogged with debris, hindering the proper administration of medication. This can lead to unpredictable effects, slower progress, and make adverse reactions harder to anticipate.

One of the most concerning consequences of needle reuse is the risk of bacterial contamination with each injection. Murphy elaborated, “Even reusing a needle once can result in harmful bacteria accumulating beneath the skin, increasing the likelihood of painful infections, redness, and swelling, which might necessitate medical intervention.”

“Since needles lose their sterility after use, each injection with a reused needle presents an opportunity for bacteria to enter the body, posing a significant health risk,” Murphy emphasized.

Repeated injections in the same spot, even with fresh needles, can also trigger lipohypertrophy, which is an accumulation of lumpy, scarred tissue beneath the skin. These hardened areas also disrupt how effectively the medication is absorbed by the body.

Utilising fresh needles and carefully alternating injection sites can prevent further complications once lipohypertrophy emerges.

Murphy continued: “It is possible that not taking the recommended dose could exacerbate side effects and come with other, unknown risks. For any medication, you should always read the instructions carefully and stick to taking the correct amount.

“If you’re microdosing, even small variations in dose can have a bigger impact on the effectiveness and safety of your treatment. So, important to stick to the recommended dose so results are as effective as possible.”