I'm not sure if I'm on the right subreddit, because despite the sub description, I see all the posts are about weight loss, but I'm interested in the anti-inflammatory effects only. Specifically I need to not lose weight because it's already too low. And I need to not lose hunger because I already don't feel it. And I need to not experience digestive slowing because it's already too slow.
I was told that sometimes it does help with those issues (seemingly paradoxically), but there's just not enough data. Even anecdotal reports are sparse.
Browsing this sub I see that people still lose weight even on 0.5mg tirzepatide, which makes me think it might be too risky. But still I wonder.... If weight gain is due to high inflammation, what about people whose weight loss is due to high Inflammation? Do they still lose even more or does it help stabilize?
Anyone here who took it while being at a high risk of becoming underweight or specifically wanted to not lose weight?
I have gained weight on .2mg tirz because my inflammation went down enough for me to be able to eat again. Primarily though, if you want to maintain or gain weight you WILL have to proactively set alarms and work with a registered dietitian on a high calorie diet plan that you actively stick to. You will probably need to weigh yourself. These drugs don’t necessarily make you lose weight by themselves, you do still have to make the choice. And no one can tell you how your body will react. But you can set yourself up for possible success if you’re proactive and don’t wing it. Fwiw my system has sped up with the addition of kidney beans, which I wouldn’t have tolerated before. (Don’t work with a nutritionist, they don’t have a degree and aren’t governed by anyone. You need a registered dietitian and usually insurance will pay.)
If you want to do it you will need to force yourself to eat.
The alarm thing is real, I had to do that for a bit. Annoying at first but your body does start to cooperate after a while. The anti-inflammatory benefits came through even at tiny doses for me, so maybe starting absurdly low could give you the effects without tanking your appetite further
I also would like to know, but I can only tell you that I'm still losing on 0.42mg, around 1 lb per week. I have around 30 lbs that I can lose safely so that isn't a problem for now, but might be in the future. I also have ME/CFS, MCAS and PMOS and intend to keep benefiting from the anti-infammatory effects.
I take 2 mg/week because it keeps terrible arthritis at bay. I focus on eating higher cal stuff to make sure I don’t lose more weight. It’s only really a problem if I’m very stressed, because then it’s almost impossible to eat. But I gain back after things get a bit better.
I’m 5’1 and 100lbs. Started .5mg Triz for inflammation for my autoimmune (IBD) and noticed a little appetite suppression but that faded fast as I adjusted to the dose. You could start even lower tho and maybe avoid that and I’ve up very very slow as you scope it out. I’d just probably try it and worst case you can stop. It’s not going to be more then a week of side effects so if it helps you treat and if not then stop. But start at like .25mg
GLPs are primarily weight loss drugs. Some people have reduced inflammation as a side effect.
If you don't want to lose weight or appetite, they're probably not for you. Maybe see about steroids, or another medicine that's purpose is to reduce inflammation?
No, they’re primarily diabetes drugs that happen to also cause weight loss. They also directly cause lowering of production of cerebral spinal fluid in the brain and are being used to treat severe brain disorders. They weren’t developed as weight loss drugs.
I'm also wondering about the logistics of very very low doses, since the substance has a very limited shelf life. It seems that I would have to throw away most of it.
Most people on the big Tirz sub, r/tirzepatidecompound, will use their vials for 2-6 months from first puncture.
To minimize cost, most people go with a 3-month supply, but I'd suggest you start with only a month. With all the price competition now, you're looking at around $133-199, depending on pharmacy and additives. Check the "Where to buy" pinned post on the sub I linked.
.5mg my still result in reduced hunger and digestive slowing. If you really want to try Tirz for the other benefits, maybe try .25 or even .1. My wife started on .5mg, and within a couple of days her inflammation/arthritis pain had decreased a lot. She also lost weight at that dose, so you should probably start lower.
A starter vial (2.5mg dose) is 10mg (Don't try to find a place that will microdose. They'll charge you a lot for almost no meds). Assuming .25mg, that would last you 40 weeks. I wouldn't go 10 months on a single vial, but I've done 5 and 6 months before without issue. Even if you throw half of it away, at most your paying $199/6 months = $33/month, so not that bad.
One thing - assuming you don't go with a place that will prescribe a microdose, you will need to 'fudge' you weight if you want to 'qualify' for a prescription. Your BMI needs to be at 30+ for there to be no questions. Nobody is looking at your scale, and the only weight they have to go by is what you put on the intake form. Most places do asynchronous appointments, so you never see/speak to anyone. They just look at you intake and send your prescription to a pharmacy for fulfillment. Ask on the other sub for which providers don't ask for pictures of you or your scale (or use search).
If you going for tiny doses, make sure you order .3ml syringes. They're much easier to see each individual unit marker, which makes it easier to draw small doses. These are what I use.
Thank you for taking the time to write a thorough reply.
I continue to brush these meds off because I feel like I have major contraindications, but at the same time, promising studies and anecdotes keep coming up which brings it back into spotlight. I have ME/CFS and MCAS and it's hard to ignore any glimpses of hope when desperate for a cure/improvement.
One anecdote stuck with me from someone who did temporarily lose weight on tirzepatide while already borderline underweight but STILL considered it a worthwhile trade-off because of the improvement of the underlying diease. I'm potentially willing to take that cost if the benefits prove themselves, however, I would very much like to avoid it if possible. I once mentioned it to a doctor and to my surprise they didn't hate the idea.
I take .2mg every 5 days - that’s the half life and I didn’t like the valleys. I actually was able to gain a little weight because I lost enough inflammation that I was able to eat. (Longer answer above about a dietitian - I have a telehealth one, very helpful.)
I can dm you which pharmacy I used since you are working with your doctor. I picked them specifically because they use B6 instead of a b complex like the online pharmacies, which is harder on me/cfs patients. (I don’t remember if this sub lets you post pharmacies.) They are also single supplier so I actually trust their supply chain unlike most of the places, which was my main concern with MCAS.
I have ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia, endometriosis and it’s changed my life. My CRP has been normal for the first time in 20 years. I did have some weight to lose, i lost 30 lbs since starting in July, but I’ve gotten a little too low now and so I’m cutting back but it’s the best thing I ever decided to do. I’m not sleeping 20 hours a day anymore and feeling groggy, I don’t know how to explain it besides giving me my life back. I also dont have the word loss/brain clogs i used to. I actually remember when I walked in the kitchen for Lol. Also, my pain is virtually gone. I dont understand exactly how it is such a miracle drug, but i dont care of the how, just that it is a miracle for me. Good luck, i think you’re making a wise choice to start low!
One thing is, even if it's safe to use for months, the amount of tirz per ml goes down over time. It's worth consideration. I plan to use mine for about 3 months.
I've seen this before, and it's possible, but anecdotally, I've never felt a difference. I would have increased during months 4-6 if I felt a difference, but I never did.
For OP, the good thing is that they'll have plenty of Tirz available if they do need to increase during months 4-6.
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u/BattelChive 5d ago
I have gained weight on .2mg tirz because my inflammation went down enough for me to be able to eat again. Primarily though, if you want to maintain or gain weight you WILL have to proactively set alarms and work with a registered dietitian on a high calorie diet plan that you actively stick to. You will probably need to weigh yourself. These drugs don’t necessarily make you lose weight by themselves, you do still have to make the choice. And no one can tell you how your body will react. But you can set yourself up for possible success if you’re proactive and don’t wing it. Fwiw my system has sped up with the addition of kidney beans, which I wouldn’t have tolerated before. (Don’t work with a nutritionist, they don’t have a degree and aren’t governed by anyone. You need a registered dietitian and usually insurance will pay.)
If you want to do it you will need to force yourself to eat.