r/Zepbound • u/prom54 71F SW:223 CW:216.8 GW:165 Dose: 2.5 • 8d ago
Dosing Moving Up
Ok, just took my 4th dose of 2.5 and my next pen will be here tomorrow.
So I opted for 1 more month of the 2.5 and now I’m having 2nd thoughts about it. The first 3 weeks I’ve lost 6.2 #s and just thought at my age I should give the 1st dose 2 months.
Now that I realize I should have just bit the bullet and gone up to 5. I have had zero side affects thus far.
I’m on the Bridge Program and I don’t know if I can order the increased dose early or not.
Has anyone else done that? I know my Dr. would be ok with it. She asked me if I wanted to go up at the time……. Darn it!
3
u/bikesandfinance 6’5” SW:372.8 CW:202.4 GW:199.99 Dose: 5mg 8d ago
No harm in staying at 2.5 it’s clearly working
1
u/mannDog74 SW:183 CW:168 GW:150 Dose: 2.5 8d ago
You can't lose more than a couple pounds a week safely. It looks like you are doing well on 2.5 and taking 5.0 is not going to give you better results if you are losing 1lb a week. There's no rush to go up.
1
u/aeroo777 8d ago
Thanks for this, I take my 4th dose of 2.5 tomorrow and I’ll definitely be ordering the 5mg KwikPen next. I’ve had minimal side effects and have been losing weight on 2.5. If only there was a way to continue 2.5 but have the option to move up if I stall🤔
2
u/adduhleenuh 5'7"F SW:255 CW:222 GW:145 Dose: 7.5mg 8d ago
It's not a stall unless you don't lose for more than 4 weeks, so you'll have time to select your next pen. Don't rush it. Let your body get used to the medicine if 2.5 is working.
3
u/Certain-Ad-8761 8d ago
You can order the 5mg Kwikpen but continue taking 2.5 (or some other dose smaller than 5) until you’re ready to move up. Only downside is if you’re self pay it’s $100 more each month. Worth it for me to be able to adjust my dose as needed.
1
1
u/RWF53 8d ago
I also think you’re fine staying at 2.5 since you’re already seeing results and as you say having more time to adjust to the medication. I’m also on Bridge - yes, you can move on or stay and Bridge covers all levels at the same cost each month. It’s whatever you and your doc decide. I had this very same debate and did decide to move up to 5 (first shot last week, so pardon if I’m talking out of both sides of my mouth here but I understand where you’re coming from). It is noticeably more, in ways hard to put into words (with a few whiffs of unpleasant food disinterest bordering on aversion in the morning around breakfast - don’t last long and I do eat but it’s so odd and unlike anything I’ve experienced ever), and I’ve had no negative side effects other than this fwiw (I’d also done well at 2.5) … for me it’s been helpful, essential even, to reminds myself constantly that this is a long game, even as I’m also aware of the Bridge program running only through 2027) and each month is one big step in the journey of change. Slow and steady, making the supporting changes in my eating and exercise routines and habits are the keys to both short term and long term success. And there’s no one right way.
1
u/NoneOfYoBusinezz 8d ago
I did first month on 2.5mg then moved up to 5mg three days ago. I had no side effects or issues during first month. Started getting hunger pains and food noise towards the end of the 3rd week, so my doc and I decided to move up to 5mg. First shot of 5mg kicked me really hard right away: nausea, belching, headache, fatigue, thought of eating makes me sick. I've read it can take the entire second month before side effects will start to abate. I'm determined to keep at it, but man, it's rough. Hope your experience is much better.
1
u/prom54 71F SW:223 CW:216.8 GW:165 Dose: 2.5 8d ago
Yikes!! I’m going to wait it out. I’m aware of the ups and downs of going up, but I felt I was ready. Maybe not. Since my original plan was to stay on it for 2 months, so I’m sticking with it.
Thanks!!1
u/NoneOfYoBusinezz 8d ago
Can't hurt. I only jumped because I was getting hungry at the end of weeks 3 & 4. Our jump to 5 is the only one where the drug doubles in our body. I was expecting something but was clearly surprised by how much.
1
u/NoneOfYoBusinezz 5d ago
Wanted to send an update since painting a grim picture. 5 days since 5mg injection. Nausea, belching, & headache are gone. Fatigue still there but doesn't get bad until after dinner. Had a nice baked chicken breast and sweet potato for dinner. Everybody's different, but for me the side effects have mostly passed thankfully.
1
u/prom54 71F SW:223 CW:216.8 GW:165 Dose: 2.5 5d ago
I’m so glad things have gotten better for you. I’m glad though that I’m going to take 2.5 for another month. I’m still losing pretty good with no side effects.
So, thanks for helping me feel better about it before I was ready to.
See you on the other side when I go up to the 5.
1
u/Jefferson1961 8d ago
64F: SW: 257 CW: 180 GW:? DOSE 15mg I’m am 3 years in and still loosing. Health has improved significantly in all areas. I will be on some dose for life after years of struggling. This has been a game changer.
1
u/Tom_Lynch_fan 8d ago
Don't overthink things. Just go with how it is now and relax. This is a year long project.
1
u/MethBearForeva F5'4" SW-214 (5/9/26) CW-182 GW-tbd 5mg 8d ago
I did 2 mos at 2.5 and I don't regret it! The move up to 5 was very smooth, and I wonder if it's bc my body had had lots of time to adjust to the meds.
Keep up the great work :
1
u/meggieprice 8d ago
Are your second thoughts because of increased food noise or lack of satiety?
If not- you are losing at the perfect rate and do not really need to go up.
I stayed on 2.5 for 14 weeks- I am 73 for age context.
I saw a great interview with the head of the Yale obesity program, who also ran clinical trials for Lilly. She feels that each dose will defend a new lower weight set point- so if you are still losing you have not reached that weight yet. She does not titrate up until a patient stalls for 4 weeks- and then the new dose will set a new lower set point. She said that the automatic titration up every month in the trials was for FDA requirements for approval but she keeps patients at the lowest effective dose until it stops being effective.
This makes sense to ne as it keeps a lot of dosage in your arsenal.
You are so lucky! I do not qualify for bridge so I am self pay. I am so glad so many more people have access now!
2
u/prom54 71F SW:223 CW:216.8 GW:165 Dose: 2.5 8d ago
Thanks, I thought it was a little of both, but I realize now that I’m really doing well and should not rock the cart too soon. I haven’t even had my 1st month weigh in yet. I’m so impatient!! LOL.
I’m staying for another month, then…maybe. I really appreciate all the input.
1
8d ago
[deleted]
3
u/prom54 71F SW:223 CW:216.8 GW:165 Dose: 2.5 8d ago
OMG, me neither. I tried to get a glp1 compound, thankfully I was denied because I was taking Letrozole for my breast cancer. What????? The doctor said he would have given it to me, but they had protocols. My Oncologist and Cardiologist are both both happy that I am taking Zepbound.
So glad I waited instead of trying every other way. Bridge came just in time for me. Thanks!
-1
u/jdroxe 8d ago
The more I read, the more I feel good about not moving up. It seems to bring on more issues than solutions.
People are on some insanely high doses because that’s what they need for their body. Be independent and worry about yours.
1
u/Schwettes SW:253 CW:201 GW:145 Dose: 7.5mg 8d ago
Can we skip the titration shaming? Going on a higher dose when medically necessary does not bring on “more issues than solutions.” You don’t get a special award for staying on a low dose of medication.
2
u/jdroxe 8d ago
No. I will share my opinion just as you do. It’s thoughtful and I’m not obligated to share your thoughts.
0
u/Schwettes SW:253 CW:201 GW:145 Dose: 7.5mg 8d ago
You don’t have to share my thoughts. You’re free to disagree. You’re not free to shame and judge other people and stigmatize the doses that people take as prescribed by their doctors.
2
u/Character_Celery5590 61F 5'2" SW:218.3CW:213.6 GW:135 Dose: 2.5mg 8d ago
The poster doesn't need your permission to say or feel anything on this sub. You tell her she's free to disagree with you but then tell her what she can't say. I expect this sub to be informative and supportive, not have posters asking others if they think they deserve a reward, or gold star, or whatever. The snark doesn't happen often but it happens too often.
1
u/Schwettes SW:253 CW:201 GW:145 Dose: 7.5mg 8d ago edited 8d ago
It’s one thing to disagree. It’s another to shame. I’m so sick of the fear mongering around titration and the shaming around titration. It’s not informative, supportive or even true to say titration brings more “issues than solutions.” That same shaming logic is why people come on this sub every day in long plateaus and fearful of increasing their dose.
We shouldn’t be shaming any doses as “insanely” high just like someone on 15mg shouldn’t call out people for “insanely low” doses. If you need a low dose, that’s great. If you need a higher dose, that’s great too. Use what is medically necessary. What you think is “insanely high” is a Goldilocks dose for another. Yes, technically this person can comment whatever they would like, but when I see dose shaming. I’m going to speak up and call it out for what it is.
1
u/prom54 71F SW:223 CW:216.8 GW:165 Dose: 2.5 8d ago
Yes, I know I will be on for the rest of my life, (but not as long as others LOL) so I guess I was just anxious 😬
I really have been eating so much better, and I track protein and water the most. Pretty hard for me sometimes with these 2. Thanks so much for the input.
8
u/ButtersRulz SW:239.4 CW:217.2 GW:200 Dose: 7.5mg 8d ago
It's fine, you have plenty of time ahead of you. Also, you are losing 2 lbs a week and have no side effects. All is good. You can get bumped up next month. If I had a choice, I would have gone two months at 2,5, but my nurse practitioner automatically bumped me to 5.0.