What is GLP-1 microdosing?

Microdosing means using GLP-1 medications like semaglutide, tirzepatide, or retatrutide at doses well below standard therapeutic targets. The goal is a gentler appetite and metabolic effect with fewer gastrointestinal side effects. This calculator turns a low microdose into the exact units to draw on an insulin syringe.

How much semaglutide is a microdose?

Community microdosing protocols often start semaglutide around 0.05 to 0.125 mg per week and step up in small increments, far below the standard 0.25 mg starting dose. With a 5 mg vial in 2 mL of bacteriostatic water (2.5 mg/mL), 0.05 mg is 0.02 mL, or 2 units on a U-100 insulin syringe.

How much tirzepatide is a microdose?

Tirzepatide microdoses commonly begin around 1 to 2.5 mg per week versus the standard 2.5 mg start, with small increments and longer holds. The calculator recomputes the exact units to draw whenever you change the vial size or bacteriostatic water.

What is retatrutide microdosing?

Retatrutide is an investigational triple agonist (GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon). Microdosing protocols use very low weekly amounts, often starting near 0.5 to 1 mg. Retatrutide is research-only, so all values here are educational and not a recommendation.

What is an extended hold?

An extended hold parks you at a single low microdose indefinitely with no escalation, rather than climbing a ladder. Many people microdosing for maintenance stay at one comfortable dose. Switch the mode toggle to Extended hold to see the units for one steady dose.

How is this different from the standard GLP-1 titration calculator?

The standard GLP-1 Dose and Titration Calculator uses full therapeutic ladders that escalate to maintenance doses. This microdosing calculator uses much lower starting doses, smaller increments, longer holds, and an extended-hold option. Use whichever matches your protocol.

GLP-1 Microdosing Calculator

Microdose semaglutide, tirzepatide, or retatrutide with a gentle, low-dose ladder or an extended hold at a single dose. Choose your vial, add your bacteriostatic water, and see the exact units to draw on a to-scale insulin syringe.

Loading the GLP-1 microdosing calculator

Pick a GLP-1, choose a gentle microdose ladder or an extended hold, add your bacteriostatic water, and read the exact units to draw for each low dose.

How to calculate a GLP-1 microdose

1Pick your GLP-1 and vial. Choose semaglutide, tirzepatide, or retatrutide, then select the preset vial strength printed on your label.
2Add your bacteriostatic water. Enter how much bacteriostatic water you mixed in to set the concentration in mg/mL. More water makes small microdoses easier to read.
3Choose a gentle ladder or extended hold. Switch between a gentle microdose ladder that steps up slowly, or an extended hold that stays at one low dose with no escalation.
4Read the exact units to draw. See the units to draw for each microdose on a to-scale insulin syringe, with over-draw warnings if a dose exceeds your syringe.

Gentle microdose ladders

Semaglutide

Ozempic, Wegovy

0.05 mg → 0.125 mg → 0.25 mg → 0.375 mg → 0.5 mg weekly, holding 6 weeks per step.

Extended hold: 0.125 mg weekly with no escalation.

Tirzepatide

Mounjaro, Zepbound

1 mg → 1.5 mg → 2 mg → 2.5 mg → 3 mg weekly, holding 6 weeks per step.

Extended hold: 2 mg weekly with no escalation.

Retatrutide

Triple G, GGG

0.5 mg → 1 mg → 1.5 mg → 2 mg → 3 mg weekly, holding 6 weeks per step.

Extended hold: 1 mg weekly with no escalation.

Common questions

What is GLP-1 microdosing?: Microdosing means using GLP-1 medications like semaglutide, tirzepatide, or retatrutide at doses well below standard therapeutic targets. The goal is a gentler appetite and metabolic effect with fewer gastrointestinal side effects. This calculator turns a low microdose into the exact units to draw on an insulin syringe.
How much semaglutide is a microdose?: Community microdosing protocols often start semaglutide around 0.05 to 0.125 mg per week and step up in small increments, far below the standard 0.25 mg starting dose. With a 5 mg vial in 2 mL of bacteriostatic water (2.5 mg/mL), 0.05 mg is 0.02 mL, or 2 units on a U-100 insulin syringe.
How much tirzepatide is a microdose?: Tirzepatide microdoses commonly begin around 1 to 2.5 mg per week versus the standard 2.5 mg start, with small increments and longer holds. The calculator recomputes the exact units to draw whenever you change the vial size or bacteriostatic water.
What is retatrutide microdosing?: Retatrutide is an investigational triple agonist (GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon). Microdosing protocols use very low weekly amounts, often starting near 0.5 to 1 mg. Retatrutide is research-only, so all values here are educational and not a recommendation.
What is an extended hold?: An extended hold parks you at a single low microdose indefinitely with no escalation, rather than climbing a ladder. Many people microdosing for maintenance stay at one comfortable dose. Switch the mode toggle to Extended hold to see the units for one steady dose.
How is this different from the standard GLP-1 titration calculator?: The standard GLP-1 Dose and Titration Calculator uses full therapeutic ladders that escalate to maintenance doses. This microdosing calculator uses much lower starting doses, smaller increments, longer holds, and an extended-hold option. Use whichever matches your protocol.

Want the full therapeutic titration ladders instead? Use the GLP-1 Dose & Titration Calculator, or work out cost with the Cost-per-Dose Calculator.

For educational and research purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional.