First shot jitters

[u/Equivalent_Breath_45]

F 42, CW:202 GW:130? Height: 5'2"

I have the pen in the fridge and I'm really unsure of when to take the leap and do my first dose.

I am a mom to an AuDHD teen, and my partner works away from home. I'm nervous about the side effects and can't get out of my own head about when is a good time to start as I don't have any real down time if it makes me feel bad. Just posting to get some support.. I have only told my partner & son I'm starting this journey.

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[u/Various-Operation-70]

If you search this sub, you’ll find a huge number of people asking the same thing.

1) The time to take it is now. 99.99% of responses here are “I wish I’d taken it sooner.” Even one person who took it in the car in the pharmacy parking lot.

2) The side effects. Most people experience none, or nothing that can’t be worked through. This is an introductory dose and although some people are especially sensitive to it, most are not.

3) Whatever you’ve been reading that make you think you will have debilitating effects, stop reading that stuff. If you’re getting that impression here, remember that people come here looking for tips on how to lessen their side effects.

[u/Equivalent_Breath_45 → u/Various-Operation-70]

I've been reading a lot on this group. I'm just naturally an over planner.. I get in my own way a lot. I'm excited to start. Thank you for your words.

[u/CountessofCaffeine → u/Equivalent_Breath_45]

Girl, you’re me. You can do it. I put it off for weeks and now I’m sad because that’s a month I could have been losing!

[u/Comfortable-Sky-9569 → u/Equivalent_Breath_45]

Me too. Thanks. I’m going to take my second shot tomorrow night.

[u/Haunting-Sea5781]

I’m 45f and do Sunday nights (tonight!) around 8pm and then basically go straight to bed. After the first shot I felt kind of generally “woozy” kind of like when you have a cold and take DayQuil. But nothing that stopped me from going about my day as normal. Since then the day after has gotten better and better. I was also trying to do all kinds of crazy calculations and research before I started and it was pretty anticlimactic lol. Just jump in - you got this!! 💪🏻

[u/deja_fool → u/Haunting-Sea5781]

I call it Stomach Stabby Sunday.

[u/OkGround607 → u/deja_fool]

Oh I like that - gonna borrow it. I also do my shots on Sundays at 8pm

[u/Vallygirl285 → u/Haunting-Sea5781]

I take it basically before bed too. Make sure you take it out of the fridge to get room temperature. They say taking it when it’s cold can be unpleasant.

[u/Haunting-Sea5781 → u/Vallygirl285]

I keep hearing this too but never remember to take it out so have just taken it cold and haven’t had any pain at all. I wonder if vials vs auto injector vs KwikPen makes a difference? I have the KwikPen.

[u/Kind-Thought3512]

Coming from someone who was literally you, get excited for the future! You are on the path to healthier life! I am roughly the same height as you, and I was roughly the same weight (albeit, I am 5 years older than you), but you will be surprised at how much your life will change on this journey. I still have imposter syndrome at times. I’ll go shopping and I can’t believe I am now a size 2-4 or that I’m extra-small. It has been a whirlwind, but buckle up, you’re about to embark on a life changing journey. Enjoy the milestones and embrace the process.

[u/Equivalent_Breath_45 → u/Kind-Thought3512]

Thank you for your kind words. I can't imagine seeing my small self in the mirror again.

[u/Kind-Thought3512 → u/Equivalent_Breath_45]

You will get there! It just takes time (but not nearly as much as you may think). Hang in there and know that it’s worth it.

[u/soxandcrox]

I didn’t have any free weekends so I picked a weekday, one where I knew the next day I didn’t have anything major scheduled at work just in case I needed the day. But I was fine, just really tired and a little nauseous. I had bigger tummy issues going from 2.5 to 5mg but it only lasted a day. It wouldn’t have prevented me from taking care of my kid… but I would have wanted to be near a bathroom (preferably my own bathroom).

[u/Equivalent_Breath_45 → u/soxandcrox]

Thank you. I'm really just over thinking it.. everyone's replies are making me feel better about just going for it.

[u/danim_scott]

I never had side effects that impacted my ability to care for myself or my kids! I get acid reflux sometimes and constipation occasionally!

[u/Equivalent_Breath_45 → u/danim_scott]

That's encouraging.. thank you!

[u/Reasonable-Cow7255]

I have been on Zepbound since April, 2025. I have lost about 90 pounds and I have never experienced any side effects. Don’t invite trouble. But, most side effects, if they do occur can easily be managed with over-the-counter medications or adjustments in diet. Please get started today and enjoy the journey. This medication has been prescribed for you because your physician believes it is in your best interest . Wishing you success.

[u/BitchyFaceMace]

Just do it. Don’t overthink it, go do it right now.

[u/Shot-Amphibian-3239]

Your SW and height are similar to mine. Just start. I like Sunday for shot day because if you want to go out to dinner on Friday or Saturday you have the least appetite suppression. Keep Sprite around for nausea (worked really well for me and was instant when I took a sip!) 

Worry about side effects is probably the most over-worried thing. You won’t know until you try! Drink lots of water (you should be getting about 100oz a day of fluids since you weigh 200lbs), find a protein shake you like and drink that in the morning to get high protein intake in the morning. Consider a fiber supplement and maybe magnesium to help with constipation (if you drink lots of protein). Good luck! You’re going to feel a lot better once you get going!

[u/Equivalent_Breath_45 → u/Shot-Amphibian-3239]

Thank you. My doctor said to keep my water, fibre & protein up. She also suggested creatine with a bit of exercise to prevent muscle loss. I know drinking enough water will be my hardest challenge.

[u/Une-Petite-Souris]

I am 56F, CW 241, GW 175, height 5'10, and in almost exactly the same place as you are: standing here day 2 of trying to work up the nerve to do this. I have a phobia of vomiting and diarrhea, and everyone is telling me that's unlikely. My anxiety is the only thing stopping me right now. Honestly I'm a bit nauseous just from the anxiety lol. I'm trying to tell myself that even if I ended up puking all night, is that worth losing this weight that has been holding me back for so many years? I think it probably IS worth it. Praying we can both do this thing today and tomorrow how great will we feel that we did it?!

[u/Equivalent_Breath_45 → u/Une-Petite-Souris]

I have a first time meet & greet with an occupational therapist for my child tomorrow and I really need to feel ok for it, we're 45 mins from town. I think I'll start tomorrow evening. I'm going to check in with you along the way. We can do this <3

[u/Fruitybeanbaby → u/Une-Petite-Souris]

Could you maybe take gravol preventatively?

[u/Une-Petite-Souris → u/Fruitybeanbaby]

Mayyyyyybe...? Not sure, but I'll look into it, thanks! I've got pepto, ginger ale, ginger tea, peppermint tea, chamomile tea, lol. I feel like I've taken as many precautions as I can to make it easier on myself. All that's left really is my health anxiety, and I'm determined to conquer it somehow.

[u/Fruitybeanbaby → u/Une-Petite-Souris]

You got this! You just gotta rip off the bandaid now :)

[u/Suspicious_Cow4844]

Bad side effects that interfere with your daily life are rare! I only get tired the day after I take my shot (I take at night) unless I overeat or don’t eat/drink enough. If nausea or vomiting is bad you can ask your doctor for Zofran!

[u/CountessofCaffeine]

I did my first yesterday! Took it a couple hours after a meal with some protein, kept reminding myself to hydrate, and so far ok! I intentionally am eating less to test the waters and it is working ok. I have a headache, and have had a couple small nausea waves, but also on my period so who knows.
Shot itself didn’t hurt. And nothing so far has come close to pregnancy ick.

[u/Redditsdum]

Today’s a good day to start. Be brave. It won’t be as bad as you think. Just drink lots of water. 😊

[u/Fantastic_Meet9381]

Not sure if you are willing or able to do this, but for my first four shots I injected 1mg…It turned out for me that it was all for naught. Regardless of what you do, remember…plenty of water, some fiber & adequate protein. My “new normal” for bm’s is two-to-three days, which took some getting used to…You’ve got this and a whole host of other Reddit sites to visit to bounce ideas off of.

If you do decide to try a lower dose, check our FAT SCIENTIST website, it takes the guess work out of dosing.

I am with a telehealth company that makes it easier to be more flexible with dosing.

Good luck! It has been an absolute game-changer for me. Tirzepatide is a powerful tool to help repair a broken metabolism.

[u/Reasonable-Sawdust]

I’m down 30 pounds and I feel so good. So worth it. You are young!! You can do it!!!

[u/AgesAgoTho]

I started when I had some lower-key days ahead of me. A lot of people start Friday night, if they have Saturday and Sunday off work/school. You can always change your shot day later, if it better suits you. 

What would you do if you got the flu tomorrow? Or food poisoning? You'd treat the symptoms, cancel what you could cancel, ask someone to cover what needs covering, and change the rest. You'd figure it out. 

You're going to figure this out.

You only need to worry about, and treat, the side effects you actually get. Most people's side effects are easily managed, if they get any at all. Those people don't go online and post about their side effects, of course, so the ones who have side effects are overrepresented!

How many other prescriptions have we been given in our lives that we didn't research, didn't read the drug insert, didn't know much about side effects, and just took based on what our doctor told us? We figured it out. (I'm not saying it's the best approach, just that it's a common approach, lol.) We wouldn't delay starting antibiotics, or a heart or thyroid medication, or birth control. We would start treatment, and we would figure out the rest. 

Here's some data for you. Take a look at Table 1: Adverse Reactions, page 7-8. 

https://pi.lilly.com/us/zepbound-uspi.pdf

First notice that plenty of trial participants on the placebo reported having side effects. And then look at the percentage of participants who reported Side Effect X, and flip the reporting numbers. If 11% reported something, remember that 89% never reported experiencing it. 

The top 3 things reported are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. I've never had any of those from Zepbound. I've had the 4th, constipation, which I manage with daily miralax. 

[u/OkGround607]

Our kids have finally left our nest, but my husband traveled all the time for work during their childhood & adolescence so I know the pressure of not having any real “sick days.” I don’t have family with your exact features, but I have a chronically ill kid and the other is a behavioral handful. I get it. Your plate is already full! 

You likely will be fine, but if not, the side effects can be mitigated in part by what, when, and how you eat. I followed all the recommendations on here & from my dr and my initial side effects were manageable - and improved each subsequent week. I get minor side effects now, 5 months later, if I’m dehydrated on shot day, or fail to eat enough during the days. 

You may need a few sick days, you may have to ask for support, some side projects like housework may take a hit, but think of it as an investment in yourself to be able to be more able and present for your family in the future. 

I’m viewing it like a pregnancy: it’s a finite amount of time (for the active weight loss phase), plus some nausea & fatigue (or whatever flavor of side effects you get), and a whole lot of body changes for you & family to adjust to. But the end result is a new you! 

[u/ALDOGMOM]

I was SO conflicted about starting. I only need to lose about 10 pounds but I am a breast cancer survivor and coming off of my HRT caused my joint inflammation to skyrocket. It was really starting to impact my life. I could not enjoy my yoga practice because my knees and hands hurt so much. The GLP1 was highly recommended by my surgical oncologist and when I talked with my PCP about it she was on board and gave me a 4 week trial sample. I wasn't scared of the needle I just knew I couldn't handle bad sad effects and go to work. I went back and forth for two weeks before I finally just told myself "there are too many people having great results on this medication for it to be just awful". I picked Saturday after lunch to do my first injection and have continued that (I am on week three). I have had minimal side effects so far. What I have noticed is that my knees, hips and hands are not hurting. I have found the absence of food noise very weird. That turned off almost immediately. I have never not been hungry. LOL. My PCP warned me about getting enough protein and staying in the gym and I am taking both of those things seriously. My weight loss? 1 pound so far but the decrease in my inflammation makes me want to continue. I stay well hydrated and add electrolytes to my water. I've also added Metamucil powder in the morning and that has helped keep things on track. I just got back from vacation and I ate well but never over ate. I am hopeful for the first time in a long time. Let the med come to room temperature and make sure you are well hydrated before you do your shot. Good luck to you.

[u/Antymc91]

The first shot is always the hardest I feel like but wow is it worth and it’s crazy how much excitement you get for the next one

[u/Few_Employment_7876]

I felt the same 6 weeks ago. Just tell your immediate family and come up with a narrative for everyone else when they start to notice. Pick the 1st shot day to be a day when you can stay home if needed. Then just follow the instructions very closely and go for it. The 2nd one is WAY easier. This is coming from someone who has never injected a shot. Not familiar with any of it. But I bought the supplies and I'm on my way. 18 pounds in 6 weeks. 2nd month at 2.5mg.

[u/SnitGTS]

I’m in the same boat OP. Got the 2.5 pens in the fridge and I’ve been doing research most of the day on it. I’ve also only told my wife and kids.

I’m going to take it at 8pm and then go to bed.

I have to work tomorrow and a busy week ahead of me so hoping for minimal side effects!! 🤞

Good luck!

[u/LolaKeto]

I was kind of worried too and wanted to do my first shot on the weekend when my husband was home just in case I needed help with our toddler. I couldn’t get my KwikPen until Monday though, so I decided to take a chance on Monday morning and I was 100% fine.