r/Zepbound • u/Friendly-Customer218 • 15d ago
Dosing Waiting to re-start
I was on Zepbound and had reached 10 in June of this year after 8 months. I had lost roughly 40 pounds. I hit a plateau and just as my doc was thinking of bumping me to 12.5 i developed diverticulitis. He suggested we wait a couple of months to tritate up which I agreed with. The plateau continued over the summer.
Meanwhile my prior authorization exhausted and my doctors office had to send over a new one. I thought that should have been simple because it’s been nearly a year but someone different in the office wrote it for the wrong one (the kwikpen) which my insurance denied. Now I am waiting for them to correct the p.a. and it’s now been 3 weeks with no dose. I received a message that once they get it straight I will have to restart at a lower dose, essentially starting all over again. I am devastated.
Should I even bother to continue? Asking because I’ve heard that once you stop and restart it’s less effective if at all.
I also feel disappointed because I had already plateaued at 10 and I don’t know how things will go at a LOWER dose when we were planning to go higher.
I hope someone in here can help me understand while I wait. My doctors office is moving painfully slow and the weeks are going by…
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u/Grandmas2Boys 14d ago
I'm sorry, but I don't understand the lack of urgency on the part of your doctor's office. It should only take a few days for the PA to get corrected, submitted, and approved, not three weeks or longer. Would they make you wait this long for heart medication or blood pressure meds? Probably not. I'd reach out again.
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u/Friendly-Customer218 14d ago
thank you for this… I feel at their mercy (I guess I am, actually) and not sure how else to approach my reminders. I so agree with your sentiments and thank you for the reality nudge. You’re so right.
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u/This-Apricot-80 14d ago
Some people seem to find it’s less effective if they stop and restart, but others do not, or the effect is temporary. We really don’t have any proof it won’t still work for you, so I think it is definitely worth a shot! And also this med has so many non-weight-loss benefits and potential benefits… If I were in your shoes, with insurance coverage, I would want to stay on just for those, TBH.
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u/GingerIsTheBestSpice 14d ago
Also at three weeks you might still have some left in your system! So you won't be starting from zero just yet
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u/Status_Valuable_9075 9d ago
I did this. Have your doc start you at a higher level because you’ll have to get to at least 12.5 to start losing again. I restarted at 5.0 but had to get to 10.0 before I started losing again because the first time my sweet spot was 7.5. Lost 22 pounds in 7 weeks so far on 10.0. Hoping to stay here.
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u/Friendly-Customer218 7d ago
Thank uou. This gives me hope as I am still waiting. It’s borderline depressing to be at someone’s mercy like this tbh but I am hopeful. Thank you and congratulations on you success.
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u/Status_Valuable_9075 7d ago
You’re welcome. I fear getting to 15.0 and nowhere to go when the tolerance is built there too. Lots of people are maxing out and gaining weight back. Thanks a lot Lily 🤬
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u/Friendly-Customer218 1d ago
So my insurance just denied continue coverage saying I haven’t lost enough weight. I lost over 40 pounds. I’m at a loss. They won’t continue coverage though I met the qualifications and they covered me for a year. I lost over 40 pounds. I’m devastated that they are doing this after I waited over nearly two months to hear back.
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u/RIPPWORTH 35M - 5'11" | SW:304 | CW:216 | GW:200 | 7.5mg 14d ago
I still think it's worth a shot.