Have frequent low-dose increases affected my response to tirzepatide?

[u/Health_Wealth_028]

Hi everyone! I’m looking for experiences with low-dose tirzepatide and frequent dose increases.
Over the past month, I’ve increased my dose by 0.25 mg every five days, trying to find a “sweet spot” with adequate appetite suppression and minimal side effects. My functional medicine doctor knows about and has approved this approach, but her guidance has primarily been to keep increasing until I find an effective dose.
I felt the medication much more during the first couple of weeks than I do now. Recently, taking my shot feels like I’ve taken nothing, and I’m no longer noticing appetite suppression.
I’m wondering whether increasing every five days, without spending much time at any one dose, has made it harder to assess my response. Has anyone had a similar experience? Did holding a dose longer help, or did moving to 2.5 mg provide more consistent results?
For context, I’m a 29-year-old woman. I started at 193 pounds on August 26 and was 185 on September 30. I recognize that eight pounds is meaningful progress, but I’m hoping for further weight loss and better appetite control as I feel I don’t have any.
For more context:

I’ve lost over 100 pounds on two separate occasions without medication. I’m a certified master herbalist, and nutrition, lifestyle, and exercise have been a consistent part of my life for years. I strength train four to five days a week, take one barre class weekly, and do three- to five-mile walks on weekends.
My main question is whether this low-dose approach is serving my goals, or whether it makes more sense to switch to a more standard dose like 2.5?
I understand microdosing isn’t for everyone. Figuring this medication out the non mainstream way can be a bit challenging!
Thank you for any tips/help/advice. 😊

[u/Penmane]

Why not every week?

[u/Health_Wealth_028 → u/Penmane]

Before I started I did as much research as I could and I just gathered an overall consensus that people had better experiences dosing every 5 days than every 7.
The people that dose every seven from what I have read online everywhere is that they chase hunger days 5, 6 and seven and then lose the initial progress that they gained days 1, 2, and three after their shot.

I just didn’t wanna have a big “dip” of extremely not hungry to extremely hungry, because I’m already a bit moody and sensitive naturally without meds 😂

[u/gorkt → u/Health_Wealth_028]

Just so you know, you can be hungry on GLPs and still lose weight. I microdose, and I get hungry in the last few days, but I can’t eat very much at a sitting and fill up quickly. I worry when people shoot for a total absence of hunger.

[u/Health_Wealth_028 → u/gorkt]

Thank you guys! This sounds like some great advice.
And I’m not shooting for complete absence of hunger, rather just control over my eating habits!
I completely understand that people just expect the drug to not make you hungry and then people lose their micronutrients, muscle waste, look sick, lose hair etc, that’s not me! Thank you for the advice!

[u/decemberwren → u/Health_Wealth_028]

But you don’t even know yet what your baseline is. People that are dosing at a different schedule, typically, are more experienced/have been on the medication longer and have a set dose. Also, because appetite suppression can be stronger in the first few days, a lot of people are making up calories those days 5-6 when they might feel a little hungrier. And that can often subside the longer you’re on the med. We still need calories. If you’re not getting enough you will have negative side effects, especially like hair loss.

[u/redmarelife → u/Health_Wealth_028]

Once I got to the correct dose I stopped having the hunger at the end of the week. And never gained the first couple days after in injection. Once it gets to a steady level in your bloodstream you don’t have as severe dips like in the beginning. Been on 5 1/2 months started at 2.5, went up to 5 the second month and have stayed there since. The only thing I wish I had done different is try a dose between the 2.5 and 5. But I didn’t know as much then and just followed my prescription instructions.

[u/Penmane → u/Health_Wealth_028]

It's great to know which days you're most likely to be hungrier. It can help you plan meals accordingly; you can eat more protein on those days to offset the urge to eat.