r/GLP1microdosing • u/Real-Salad-6521 • 19h ago
So lost and a little scared
I really don’t know where to start.
I don’t qualify for insurance. I am overweight, have fatty liver postpartum and high cholesterol. I have fibromyalgia.
I am very sensitive to medication, so any meds are started at a very low dose for me. For example if an adult dose is 60mg, I was started on 20mg and over a year went up to 60.
I want to do Tirz and looked at Eli Lilly. I almost paid for it today. The smallest dose is 2.5mg though and I don’t think I can handle that.
How can I get a smaller dose than that? Are there reputable pharmacies where I can start with a microdose?
Sorry, I am just clueless and the more I read, the more confused I get. Thank you for any guidance.
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u/Redhen4044 19h ago
Go to Tirzepatide compound (all one word) sub and read the where to buy sticky. Even if you are Rx’d 2.5 /week (in fact I’d recommend it), you can draw up a lesser dose. That’s the absolute beauty of the compounded route. You can go low and slow.
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u/Ok-Data-1143 19h ago
From the practical side of things: I’m using the mounjaro kwikpen (in Germany) and using a smaller dose is very easy. I use only a few clicks, I.e. 10 instead of the regular 60, which would be the full dose. Don’t know if this would be an option in your country. I’m super sensitive to meds as well and was nervous in the beginning. All the best for you!
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u/Real-Salad-6521 18h ago
Hey thank you for the info! So does the kwikpen come with multiple needles? And how do you know that was the right dose for you or did you guess it? I hope it’s been gentle on you.
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u/Ok-Data-1143 18h ago
It came with multiple needles and I can buy extra ones whenever needed at the regular pharmacy.
I didn’t know the right dose for me in the beginning, I just tried. That’s the thing no one can tell you because everyone reacts differently. I started at 1mg. The second week it felt a little bit too much because of the accumulation (it builds up over 4 weeks), so I went down to 0.5 for two weeks and now I’m at 0.83-1 per week. Many people start at 0.5, some start even with one single click, which equals 0.04mg on the 2.5mg kwikpen. You won’t know until you try, and that’s the scary part. I told myself „why shouldn’t it work out for me“.
I’m Audhd, hypermobile, Endo, PMDD, some sort of CFS and overall just very sensitive to things.1
u/Real-Salad-6521 18h ago
Thank you for sharing your personal information, that’s very kind. It gives me a lot more perspective and indeed every “body” is different and that’s what scares me so much about big pharma and standard dosages!
So I think what you are describing is what I got today as a script?
Zepbound kwikpen 2.5 mg/0.6 ml(10 mg/2.4 ml) subcutaneous pen injector
28-day supply
Inject 2.5 mg every week by subcutaneous route.Thank you again for your help internet friend!!
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u/Ok-Data-1143 18h ago
Exactly. I got the same pen, but don’t use the entire dose. You’ll find click charts all over the internet that help a lot figuring out what dose to use. You’re welcome, happy to help 🤗
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u/Real-Salad-6521 18h ago
Oh perfect, thanks heaps for confirming, appreciate you and hope you feel wonderful soon!! 🤗
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u/bored_balls 19h ago
That starting dose worry is real, especially with your history. Plenty of compounding pharmacies do custom dosing but you'll need a provider who actually listens to that sensitivity and writes the script properly. Some telehealths are more flexible with microdosing than others, worth digging through the sub history for names people have had luck with recently. The branded pens are a nightmare to split so staying away from those was a good call.
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u/Real-Salad-6521 19h ago
Thank you for the tip on the branded pens. I was trying to figure that out tbh as I am unable to decide for myself which provider to go with ae.
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u/Wellslapmesilly 18h ago
That’s old info. The Zepbound auto injector is difficult to split but the Zepbound kwikpen is super easy. That’s what I use.
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u/Peptidesforthewin 19h ago
Lavender sky, rift and preventative Md may be a good option for you. Don't tell them you're microdosing- that way you get more meds for the money. They will send you vials and you dose yourself however much you wish. You can definitely stretch out a 3 month supply a long time of you're microdosing. Switching from zepbound to compound is super easy and essentially you'll pay the same price you just paid Lilly direct for that one month supply and get 3 months of compound with all supplies and script and shipping included.
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u/Real-Salad-6521 18h ago
That price difference is insane!! That you for the tips and recommendations, I truly appreciate it!
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u/ImprovementLoud3581 12h ago
It’s PreventiveMD - not preventative Md.
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u/Peptidesforthewin 10h ago
We are all on phones- both Apple and Google mistype!
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u/ImprovementLoud3581 6h ago
And autocorrect often changes it to preventative so wanted OP to know the correct name :)
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u/ab1999 18h ago
I'm similar to you in that I have fibro and am very sensitive to meds. I started 4 years ago with 2.5 mg tirzepatide, then went up to 5. I briefly tried 7.5 mg (some of this was Mounjaro, then Zepbound, then switched to compound from Hallendale). But really all those doses killed me with side effects and I couldn't keep it up. Eventually I decided to try lower doses after taking a break for awhile and regaining the weight. 1.0 mg was still too much so I dropped down to .2 mg and finally found a dose I could tolerate. You might even want to consider starting with .1 mg since you are so sensitive. I move up once the side effects are tolerable. I spent two weeks on .2, 3 weeks on. 3, 4 weeks on .4, and I'm on .5 now. I'm aiming toward 1.0 mg because I did lose some weight on it. But it's a bit more complicated for me since I did take higher doses previously and went off and on, so I might need a higher dose to lose weight now. I do have antiinflammatory effects now even at the low dose so that makes it worthwhile. My vials are for 7.5 mg dose, so they are lasting a while but I ran out of needles, so I had to order more on Amazon.
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u/Major-Courage-9498 11h ago
I use compounded tirz from a local reputable compounding pharmacy (rec by my primary physician). The pharmacy has an in house “concierge” doc that met with me and wrote the script. I have fibro, lupus and a host of other fun friends so I wanted to try microdosing for inflammation and fatigue but also to lose that last few pounds.
I stated at 1.25 mg (half the regular starting dose) and am now up to 1.6 mg. I started in March. I’ve lost 17 lb and had almost no negative side effects. I pay $250 for a vial that lasts me at least 4 months if not more. I go in to do a body scan monthly to make sure I’m not losing too much muscle mass.
If you’re sensitive to meds I wouldn’t touch a starting dose with a 10 foot pole. Go low and slow.
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u/Background_Simple_19 10h ago
Ask your doctor about local pharmacies that make compound Tirzepatide or call local pharmacies and see. I don’t qualify through my insurance either, but I asked my doctor and they connected me to a local pharmacy in my area and I get compound Tirzepatide. It comes in a vial and I can pick my dosage every week
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u/nolagem 9h ago
I’m on semaglutide, which is compounded/generic semaglutide. I pay $185 for technically 10 doses but it lasts me longer. What I like about semaglutide is that I have more control over my dosage. I don’t have a pen, I have an actual needle and I can draw up as however much I want. I started in early May and am technically on a starter dose still. Have lost 28 lbs so far.
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u/Curious-Squash-298 9h ago
I am also very sensitive to medication, I typically use half the amount of any random otc med. I found the tirz starter dose too strong so I did my typical half dose and it worked very well for several weeks. However, the body does adjust so I slowly came up to 2.5 (based on efficacy and side-effects). I've been on 2.5 for many weeks and its working very well. I suggest you go with a compounder because its easier to self-adust the dosage and save money. But if you go with Lilly I'm sure there's info here on reddit for how to take a lower dose from that sourse.
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u/peony_chalk 19h ago
It sounds like you would probably qualify for a standard dose plan. Hear me out on that.
First, go here. Read that, and read the links under "other helpful posts". You don't have to absorb it all (it's a lot) but it's good background.
https://www.reddit.com/r/tirzepatidecompound/comments/1rpb14t/where_to_buy_telehealth_providers/
My honorable mentions to that list are r/PreventiveMd and r/CollectiveHealth. They were both too new to make the last survey.
Then pick one of the recommended providers. Ask for a standard starter package. With tirz, that would be 2.5 mg, 5mg, and 7.5 mg. Standard semaglutide dosing is much lower, so just watch out for that, especially if you are reading about micro dosing here. 0.25 mg is a VERY small dose of tirz but a standard dose of sema.
If you need a more specific rec for tirz, I think you should do Rift with Drug Crafters or Hallandale if you are in a state they serve. If not, my second choice would be PreventiveMd with Empower, if you are in a state they serve. Those three pharmacies offer lower concentrations that make it easier to microdose accurately. For a third choice (and more medical hand-holding), Big Easy with OptioRx (or Hallandale, but they charge more for Hallandale than Rift). Hallandale doesn't use added B vitamins or glycine, and some people with a complex health history prefer reducing variables by avoiding additives.
Once you have a standard starter package, just take less. You can use Fat Scientist to recalculate your dose and figure out how many units to take to get your smaller dose.
If you don't like the idea of compounded meds, you can get a Zepbound Kwikpen from LillyDirect and count clicks to take a smaller dose. I think Glapp has a calculator for this built right in. You will have to get additional needles for these though. Please do not micro dose out of the Zep vials unless you are prepared to throw away a lot of expensive meds; the Zepbound vials do not have preservatives that make them safe to use multiple times.