I can't remember if I posted on here or another thread, but I find it fascinating how much control we (on private prescriptions) are all taking over our own MJ journeys.
The people on the original clinical trials, and those on an NHS prescription are following a specific regime. In a clinical trial there is no room for any variation, and most people on an NHS prescription will follow the advice of their GP - and the GP will be following a recommended protocol (and in their busy work will understandably not have time to research microdosing etc.)
I have a friend who was on NHS prescribed Ozempic but has given up because of the adverse side effects as the dose increased. That's it, back on her previous diabetes meds, no discussion of a variation in regime.
If I (or any of the other MJ weaklings) had been on an MJ clinical trial we would have dropped out early, and all that would be recorded would be adverse side effects - there's no option in an ethically approved trial to make variations mid-study - so no-one looking to see if continuing on a low dose might be a possibility. Clinical trials just cannot be designed with that kind of structure.
We are all part of a different process - citizen science - where real people are making real decisions, reporting real results and contributing a huge amount to the increasing body of knowledge. We all deserve a pat on the back for the part that each of us play in that by posting about our challenges and triumphs, our worries and our experiences.
There are threads about what people eat, how they split doses across months, how they manage adverse side effects, how they are managing the end of their weight loss journey... Of course this happens on any specialist health forum but it is often build up slowly over years. Here, and on other MJ forums, this is happening rapidly.
Encouragingly, what we are seeing is the private prescribers responding to citizen science - the emerging maintenance plans are a great example. The original clinical trials had maintenance on 15mg, however, prescribers are being flexible about what people think they actually need (and because it is lower doses they will feel confident that there is very little risk), and now we are even hearing about microdosing. I believe this is the first time this (citizen science) has happened on such a huge scale, and so quickly, in relation to medication. [It has been part of tech development for a long time].
I also think this is a step change in empowerment for us regarding how we adjust prescribed medication (private or NHS) to suit our own bodies - and as we see from MJ, we are all so different. If it's like that for MJ, then of course it's going to be like that for other medication. I was on medication for high blood pressure, managed to make lifestyle changes and reduce my bp, and reduce my meds. If I took no meds my blood pressure was pretty unstable, and therefore quite dangerous. If I took half a tablet daily everything was stable. But the half tablet was 'clinically ineffective' (or not tested) so my GP can't prescribe a half dose. So I get a full dose and throw half away. What a waste!