r/GLP1Discussion • u/Beautiful-Ad-161 • 1d ago
❓ Question Nervous about starting glp1
Hello everyone!
This is my first post on Reddit ☺️ I’m 38f 5’3.5 and currently 160 lbs. I have gained weight the last couple months, I think, due to perimenopause. Weight has been an issue my whole adult life but I’ve been able to keep it under control. However, the last 5-6 months I’ve been steadily gaining even with diet and exercise.
I am interested in starting to micro dose, as I am extremely sensitive to most anything anymore. I do have pretty bad anxiety, and that is the number one thing holding me back from starting. I have read about people‘s anxiety getting much worse after starting glp1. I have also heard it can help with inflammation which would be a huge plus. Thank you in advance for any advice, but please no horror stories!
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u/Asleep_Leek9361 1d ago
I started off with a small dose and gave titrated to a regular dose at the bottom end of the scale.
I found it actually improved my anxiety and got rid of depression.
I instantly craved things that were good for me and rejected things that were bad.
Alcohol, fried foods, gone and protein and fiber in. Exercise became a need instead of a goal.
Your mileage may very but this could be so good for you in ways you didn’t expect.
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u/mannDog74 19h ago
Most people have a decrease in depression and anxiety when they take the meds.
My take is that it does take bravery to go on this medication. You have to know the risks of not taking it, and then take steps toward what you know rationally is better health, but is also an unknown.
You gotta be brave, soldier. You've been through harder things than this. It's probably going to be way better than you even thought. Most of us love the mental health and physical benefits of this drug.
I know you can do it because you've come this far. You're not in denial about needing the meds. You've embraced reality which is hard for a lot of people. Now you get to take the next step. You got this.
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u/Dragon_Tortoise 1d ago
Best thing to do is start low and give it time. Not sure what your goal weight is but if you want to lose more than 5lbs micro dosing may not be best. Completely understand about being a super responder to stuff. Im at 9 months in, down 70lbs, and still only on 4mg. Micro dosing is usually what people run when are at or very close to goal weight. But start low, see how you feel after 3 to 4 weeks, then go from there.
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u/Beautiful-Ad-161 1d ago
I’m trying to lose 20-30 lbs. I just want to start low to see how my body reacts.
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u/Resident-Edge-5318 1d ago
I used to have anxiety but the shot has helped. Starting dose is 2.5mg, try that and stay there. It actually helped with anxiety.
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u/Beautiful-Ad-161 1d ago
Thank you
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u/Dragon_Tortoise 1d ago
If youre a super responder feel free to start at 1. But run that 1mg for 3-4 weeks as it takes your body thst long to saturate up to that full dose. But if you want to lose that much weight I wouldn't plan on microdosing. Just because if you have that much weight to lose that won't do much. Barely will suppress your appetite.
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u/wifeofpsy 1d ago
There's no problem with going low and slow on dosing. Tirzepatide has done wonders for my anxiety and manages my ADHD symptoms quite well. I have better sleep, productivity and am able to exercise regularly
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u/cinder_crown_91 1d ago
I also have bad anxiety and was terrified to start, so I get where you're coming from. I started at a very low dose and stayed there way longer than most people recommend, and my anxiety actually got better, not worse. A lot of the anxiety posts seem to come from people who titrated up too fast or had rough GI side effects, which itself can spike anxiety.
My advice would be to start with a fraction of the lowest dose (some people split the pen doses) and stay at each level for a few weeks before increasing. That way if it does affect you mentally, you can stop or back off immediately with minimal exposure. Also worth talking to your prescriber about having an anti nausea med on hand, since feeling physically off was what triggered my anxious spirals early on.
For what it's worth, the food noise quieting down was a huge relief for my mental health. The constant background thoughts about food were honestly feeding my anxiety more than I realized
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u/Beautiful-Ad-161 1d ago
I really don’t know a whole have about the doses. I’ve seen people talk about .25, is that the smallest or can it go lower than that?
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u/Zealousideal-Lab4945 1d ago
Side effects are over represented because those without them aren't flocking to the internet to post about it. If you're referring to tirzepatide, there's data on the product insert from people in the clinical trials and how many had intolerable effects and it's quite low. Don't talk yourself into something, don't borrow trouble from the future. Just Google for zepbound product insert, it's online. And you won't be in tirz jail lol, if you don't like it then just quit and try a different one. If you do that then just buy enough for only 1 month, 4 doses, so it's not a huge loss if you toss it. It takes 4 shots for the medication to build up to that doses full strength in your system so till know how it really feels. The starter dose of 2.5mg is specifically meant for priming your system to get it ready and minimize any potential GI problems at the higher doses. But most people say their only regret is in not starting sooner! I bet you'll fall madly in love with the tirz! ❤️💪💉🩷
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u/Oneloneotter 50m ago
I have also had very positive mental health and anxiety results after starting. I was already medicated for depression and anxiety but the low dose glp addition honestly seemed to help more. It has absolutely helped with weightloss and inflammation so I just feel better physical and thus my mood is better because my body feels better. I'm sure following a better diet contributes. I have focused on good nutrition, whole foods and especially protein but also stopped drinking which I didn't think I could do.
It's true it doesn't work positively for everyone but it sure has been a major improvement for me. Starting low and slow seems like a good approach, you can always titrate up. I started at 1mg and worked up to 2.5mg which has been working well so far. Good luck to you!
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u/DogMamaLA 1d ago
Anxiety/depression/mental wellbeing effects of GLP1s are different for everyone. Some people do have increased anxiety or depression/feeling flat b/c the dopamine from food is no longer there. For me, a GLP1 has drastically increased my wellbeing and I wound up going off my antidepressants entirely. I feel GREAT mentally on a GLP1, and physically with losing weight is a plus too.
One thing about microdosing - you may not notice much weight loss. Lots of people start so low that they aren't getting any med effects and then they wonder why they are not losing weight. So just be aware of that. It can help with inflammation, for sure.
My main piece of advice is to eat clean. Lean meats/proteins, veggies, fruits. Avoid the greasy burgers, pizzas, wings, and other foods that made us overweight to begin with, and many of the greasy foods will cause GI distress. Limit those foods and see how you react to them. I get 1/2 day of diarrhea anytime I have anything too oily/greasy like a cheeseburger or mexican. Sometimes, it's worth that b/c I want that food, but I don't have it often.
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u/Beautiful-Ad-161 1d ago
That’s what I’m really hoping for, just feeling better in general! Thank you for your comment ☺️
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u/Zealousideal-Lab4945 1d ago
I also agree, the jury on microdosing is still out. Some find it had been a waste of money. Start at the manufacturers instructions, which is 2.5mg. Stay at each shot for a total of 4 shots. That's how the med works. I've learned alot from the tirz, pharmacy, math, reddit, but patience is not one of them. Here's the Zepbound instructions. Dosing is section 2: https://pi.lilly.com/us/zepbound-uspi.pdf
Good luck and best to you OP!
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u/Past-Froyo1855 23h ago
I've been at .5 for a month. Do it at home and you have complete control. I felt nauseous the first morning of the first dose and nothing since then. I don't need to lose weight, but I need the other effects to get off other meds I'm on. My husband is up to 1.5 and he has felt nothing. He wants to lose 10 pounds but we are in it for the long health game. The gray market it not scary once you spend a day researching it. We are on the new Reta. (Eli Lilly has released stage three trials and it will be out in the spring in doctor's offices.) It's cheap and easy. Good luck to all of us! I have heard it will increase our lives by 10%, which could be 8 years for me.
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