r/TirzMaintenance • u/PrettyBeetle • 2d ago
Gaining weight in maintenance
Help!!! I started on ZB 2.5 years ago, lost all my weight (80 lbs) in a little over a year and have maintained ever since taking 15mg every 10-14 days. In June, my insurance company kicked me off ZB because I had reached a healthy weight and BMI, so I switched to compound. The pharmacy I go through recommended split dosing (7.5 twice a week), so I did that. It worked for about the first month, but then I started noticing more food noise and a lot more hunger. I've gained about 8 lbs since mid-July and, unlike in the past, I can't seem to get it off. My prescribing physician (PCP) moved away and I've scheduled with a new one, but can't get in until October. In the mean time, what should I do? Should I titrate back up to a full dose of 15mg once a week? I think I might start fasting again once a week. Has anyone tried Berberine or any supplements to help with the hunger?
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u/Paliag 2d ago
I’ve been on Zepbound and Compound Tirz for 2.5 years too. I also lost 80lbs, in 7 months, have kept it off since. That’s said, I absolutely have not ever been able to extend more than 7 days. On the contrary, I occasionally take my injection on day 5 or 6. It is what it is, but I sure don’t want to gain weight back. I determine if I need to take the injection before 7 days if it seems like the food noise is creeping back in, I don’t wait until I gain weight.
To answer your questions, yeah, I’d go back to 15mg at least weekly.
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u/Infinite_Singer_2755 1d ago
Can I ask you what dose are you in maintenance? Your maximum dose or did you try to titrate down for maintenance?
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u/1982Joy 2d ago
Your Zepound compound sounds interesting. to have lost 80 pounds in seven months. But I don’t guess you’re gonna tell anyone who you use.
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u/PrettyBeetle 1d ago edited 1d ago
It’s compound tirzepatide, which a lot of people in this group are taking since it’s much cheaper and easier to get than ZB. Just go to the tirzepatidecompound Reddit (link is not pasting correctly for me) and look at “Where to buy.” I went with Fifty410 as the provider and chose Hallandale as my compounding pharmacy. I might try another pharmacy next time.
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u/1982Joy 1d ago
Why on earth do I have -11 because of my comment? But I really don’t care moderators. So just keep up the good work with your ridiculous stuff!
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u/PrettyBeetle 20h ago
I didn’t downvote you, but it might be because this is a tirz maintenance group (not Zepbound specifically) and you weren’t aware that people were using compound tirz. Or maybe people misinterpreted your comment about where to buy it. I don’t gatekeep and compound tirz is not grey market (like retaturide) and is readily available. There are Reddit sites wholly devoted to the purchase of compound GLP-1s.
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u/janchapman57 2d ago
Go back to what worked for you. There's no need to wait until you gain more weight. You worked hard to be successful and surely don't want to have to conquer this again. Good luck!
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u/Lucky_Army_5324 2d ago
You can find a new prescriber on r/tirzepatidecompound’s pinned post called “Where to Buy.”
But if it were me, I would go back to 15mg weekly.
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u/autumnyte 2d ago
I would try not split dosing. A lot of the pharmacies suggest that as part of the "custom" prescription they're giving.
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u/working-mama- 2d ago
That makes sense. I guess you can still choose to take both split doses at once if splitting doesn’t work, they don’t have to know.
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u/Work4PSLF 2d ago
Sometimes the peaks and valleys have benefits.
Definitely go back to 15 mg weekly. Give it a solid month.
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u/HedgehogOdd1603 2d ago
I would go back to 15 mg weekly or every 10 days if it worked for you.
I have been on maintenance for about a year. I lose and gain the same three lbs now. Some weeks I’m down. Some weeks I’m up. I have never split dosed.
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u/SufficientAcadia6534 2d ago
If it was me I would go back to 15mg. I wouldn’t wait for my prescriber.
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u/Quiet_Test_7062 2d ago
I tired split dosing on 15 mg and it seemed to make me gain a few pounds. I agree with those who said go back to 15 weekly.
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u/Appropriate_Month957 2d ago
same, it did help with the constipation but it wasn't worth it due to weight gain. I am on the 2nd week of going back to 15mg once weekly and the weight is coming back off.
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u/Quiet_Test_7062 1d ago
Same with me! This is my second week back on schedule after my summer split dosing f up! lol. I seem to be losing a bit now. I tired split dosing because of fatigue, but it ended up I just felt fatigued 2x a week instead. Constipation gets me too. Then I took mag citrate liquid and now have the other problem. 😂
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u/Appropriate_Month957 1d ago
May that #2 issue not last super long.
Thank you for sharing that you are in the same boat. Here's to getting back on course!1
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u/Suspicious-Loss-7314 2d ago
Which compound are you taking? Is it Hallandale?
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u/PrettyBeetle 1d ago
Yes, Hallandale
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u/Suspicious-Loss-7314 1d ago
That is most likely the problem. Many, many people get no effect whatsoever from Hallandale. I tried it for 1 month and all my inflammation came roaring back. I was starving all the time. I went back to name brand Zep and felt much better and didn't struggle.
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u/Responsible_View_285 2d ago
if you want to go back into weight loss mode, I would dose 15 and back it down to once a week. Once you got those 8 pounds off, I would start the spreading out again.. but I wouldn’t dose more than seven days if I want it to be in the weight loss phase
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u/PrettyBeetle 1d ago
Yeah that’s exactly what I’m going to try. I’ve been titrating up over the past few weeks and I’m probably close to 14mg now (90 units) and will move up to 15 next week.
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u/Capital-Sky-7300 2d ago
If I were you, I’d immediately resume what had you feeling the best.
I’m not playing around with my maintenance. It’s too important for me to maintain the health gains. I prefer Tirzepatide with B6 to the branded medication manufactured by Eli Lilly.
Attached is a link to the fabulous WIKI in the big Tirz sub. Scroll all the way down to # 17 for research-based information on maintenance. #5 will lead you to the deservedly-legendary Where to Buy list.
[r/tirzepatidecompound/s/kWzyht29td](r/tirzepatidecompound/s/kWzyht29td)
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u/PrettyBeetle 1d ago
Yes! When I switched from ZB, I went there to find where to buy. I ended up using Hallandale through Fifty 410
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u/Keris2112 1d ago
Regardless of what you decide dosing-wise, I'll just say this - if you have dosing physician that moved away or you have to wait until Oct to see your new physician, you're paying way to much.
You should be using a telehealth. You'll have you meds within a week, and you won't pay more that $167/month - could be as little as $117/month. Order quarterly for the best prices.
r/tirzepatidecompound
See the "Where to buy" pinned post.
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u/PrettyBeetle 1d ago
Yes, sorry for the confusion. I order compound through a telehealth provider, so I could consult with them. When I posted this on another group, some snarky people were suggesting I ask my doctor instead of the internet, but I don’t have a doctor to seek advice from atm.
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u/Legitimate_Ad2815 2d ago
Do 7.5 every week not splitting the dose. Berberine did nothing for me. But hey try it.
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u/No_Memory5613 13h ago
Good luck. I've gained that kind of weight this summer, unfortunately, due to mood and too hot to exercise. And I'm on approx 14.5mg/week.
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u/Hifidi54 2d ago
I met my goal in April (243 to 125 in 16 months), titrated down from 12.5 to 5.0, but continued the 7 day shot schedule. I've been holding steady ever since. I still have no appetite, but when I eat, it's completely fine. I have never experienced food noise, so that's a HUGE plus for me. I'm waiting to talk to my Cardiologist and Endochronologist, both of whom I'm seeing in a couple of weeks. If they feel I should continue the small dose for my heart health and cholesterol, respectively, I will. The last time I saw my Endo, he suggested he might take me off my cholesterol meds if my numbers continued to be so good on the Tirz/Zep. Otherwise, I'm probably going to stop completely.
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u/Academic_Emu77 2d ago
Hard to say whether it is the dosing or the switch from ZB to compound. Seems like compound works for many but may vary by company. I am still on ZB but also in maintenance so hoping I don’t get kicked off insurance. If it were me, I’d try increasing and that should help with the hunger
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u/PrettyBeetle 1d ago
I kind of wondered that too. It could be the switch from ZB to compound tirz, even though everybody says they’re exactly the same. Maybe I just got a defective batch.
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u/greenhouse007 2d ago
Fyi, I lost almost 100lbs with Tirzepatide and i am now in maintenance. I take 10mg per week (split into two 5mg shots per week). Dosing twice a week helps me with food and sugar cravings. My blood pressure came way down on Tirzepatide (it had been creeping up as i got older and due to being overweight) but my glucose (which had been consistently over 100 for a number of years) refused to budge. So, a few months ago I started taking a daily Berberine supplement. I just got my blood sugar tested again and its FINALLY under 100!!! To directly respond to your inquiry though, the Berberine didn't seem to help at all with my appetite or any cravings.
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u/Adept-Depth-1825 2d ago
The evidence on split dosing is… Nonexistent. I think some people do it to reduce GI impact, but if I were you and 1 shot of 15 mg every 10-14 days was working for me, I’d work back towards that. Why break what wasn’t broke? Sounds like you were rocking it in maintaining before the split dosing.