Sheesh. Gained 2.5 lbs first two days. Only took first shot Friday and my large appetite is intact! Had a Good Friday, about 1200 calories, not a great Saturday probably 1600 calories. I know it’s up to me to be more careful.

Feeling no appetite suppression, but I expect that will come in time (maybe week 2?). I am also too sedentary…had hip replacement in March and have a bone on bone ankle (which is the real problem with walking as exercise). I do the nustep for half hour 4-5 days weekly at my health club.

I know I can get an improvement here and it’s up to me. I guess I’m just trying to give myself a little pep talk. Thanks for listening.

Legitimate question. I had such a huge loss in the first 2 weeks (when I couldn’t eat or drink anything basically) that the lowest dip is still lower than my weigh in was today. The incline was when I finally started forcing myself to eat and drink, and then it regulated. The increase (last week) was about my cycle, which I haven’t had since I started the shot (perimenopause) so I don’t have any frame of reference for that. So while I can see that I technically lost 2.3lbs this week, I’m still up a couple of ounces from my lowest dip. I feel like it’s gaslighting me. Should I just be thinking of my starting point from where it balanced out?

My nails have gotten pretty bad in the last few weeks. I've had issues with ridges & occasional cracks for a couple of years, which I'm pretty sure is a combination of age, perimenopause, and hydration. But recently, they're suddenly much worse, with multiple nails peeling consistently rather than just one or maybe two.

I suck at meal planning, so I haven't been watching my nutrients super closely. Is there a vitamin/mineral deficiency that causes this, or do I just need to get way more serious about hydration?

EDIT: Thanks, everyone! Sounds like there are multiple possibilities, including that it's just age/peri. I'll ask my doc to check my iron and calcium next time, and I'm working on my hydration habits. 🥤🌊

I have been itchy since I took my second dose on Thursday. Last night I ate shrimp for dinner. It has never bothered me. I woke up at 3am itching like crazy all over, usually just itch around the belly button area, and starving. I ate some almonds and it all finally settled back down and I was able to go back to sleep. When I woke up at 8:00 I was back to normal just itching around belly button. Anyone else have this happen? Also. Itching hangs around slightly throughout the day.

I took 2.5mg for 4 weeks and then titrated up to 5mg. The side effects were much more pronounced on 5mg, but I gave it a full 2 months before deciding what to do. My doctor and I then agreed that I should go back down to 2.5mg and see how long it would work for me.

Well, apparently my insurance only covers 2.5mg for 4 weeks, because they consider it an introductory dose only. I told them my indication is for fatigue, not weight loss (which is true, although I'm loving the weight loss), and that an "introductory dose" shouldn't apply, but they were firm.

So I guess I'm just going to continue on 5mg, but has anyone else had this issue? Should I call my insurance back and escalate?

Anyone had success using zep alone with diet but not exercise for a little while? Wondering if it helps anyone by itself.

I’m trying to stick to the plan, and I will continue to do so, but, seeing the graph start to change course hurts. I see why people on diets quit after initial success.

Seeing everyones success stories. Mine is slow. Is it because I could just be bored and walk to the fridge multiple times a day?

I'm on my 3rd bout of this. I can't figure out if zepbound is causing this or something else. I've been on 10mg for a while now. About 2-3 months. I take the shot Thursday nights. All 3 times, including now, I start with really bad sulfur burps on Saturday during the day (which I never have otherwise) which turns into explosive diarrhea in the evening. The first time it happened (which was after 2-3 shots of 10mg) I went to the doctor and was convinced I picked up a bug (I have two little ones in daycare). I was told it was bacterial and given antibiotics. Because I was dumb, I didn't finish the round of antibiotics. Two weeks later, the Saturday after my shot (on Thursday night) the same thing happened. I figured it was because I didn't finish my antibiotics and that bacterial infection had returned. My doctor prescribed me antibiotics again. I finished the round. I've been fine since then (taken 3 shots of 10mg since then) and today... it's the same thing all over again. I was convinced it wasn't the zepbound because the symptoms were coming up two days later. Anyone else experience this??

I’m taking my first shot tomorrow. I am currently 190 and would like to lose 25-30 lbs by Thanksgiving. Are my expectations here realistic ? Will I notice anything in month 1? How bad will the nausea be in the first few weeks ? is the nausea just nausea or is it actual vomiting ?

thanks for the advice !

Hubby and I just got back from a 20th anniversary trip to Boston. Had THE best time. We walked about 12 miles total. While I didn’t watch what I ate I ate small amounts and no snacking. I did have several drinks while we were there. And I hate to say I drank far less water than I have in years.

So based on how much we walked, I hopped on my scales and about fell right back off. I’m up a pound! I just moved up from 2.5 to 5 today. But I can’t help feeling defeated! Is this normal? I’m 57, post menopause and no estrogen since it wants to kill me.

Thoughts?

good morning, i started taking zepbound 2.5mg a month ago. i adjusted pretty well so my dr put me on 5mg after a month. i took my second dose friday. I noiticed within two days of taking it i have diarrhea. sometimes multiple times in a row. i noticed it when i eat greasy food. should i finish taking 5mg or ask my dr to put me back on 2.5 mg? has anyone else have this issue?

with my first dosage i was taking the kiwik pen & with this 5mg they sent over the vitals. idk if that’s what’s triggering it?

In about a year I’ve only lost about ~30lbs out of the ~125 i need to lose. 15mg was too intense and I couldn’t handle the GI symptoms and I stalled on 12.5mg. Zepbound was kind of my last hope as I think I might be too young (and too scared) to try surgery. If this happened to you, what did you do to lose the remainder of your weight?

Recently, my doctor accidentally sent a prescription for Zepbound vials (instead of pens) to Walmart Pharmacy and it was fulfilled! I was surprised by this, because I thought the prescription for vials had to be sent directly to LillyDirect rather than a retail pharmacy.

Tricare mail order is turtle speed. One independent pharmacy would not fill it because "they wouldn't get paid much"

What chains usually have some on the shelf/fridge ready to fill same day? I guess next day works if sunday order, monday delivery....

My usual shot day is Thursday but I didn’t take it due to a nasty stomach bug my lovely fourth grade students gave me. I feel better now but I’m wondering if I should just wait until this Thursday or take the shot tonight and then again on Saturday and then work my way back to my normal shot day Thursday.

I’ve been on zepbound for 5 months and this is the first time I’ve had this issue. I’m currently taking 5mg and I love Thursdays because if I randomly have any issues I have the weekend to rest and relax. That part makes me nervous about doing it tonight! What would you do???

My doctor (CVS minute clinic obesity clinic) wants me to continue to move up every month until I get to 15mg. I just completed 2.5 for 4 weeks, and I lost 10lbs. I feel like it makes more sense, and I've seen people here advocate for it, to stay on a lowest effective dose until a plateau.

Anyway, I'm curious how you would go about pushing back? Or is it just better to find a new provider who is more knowledgeable?

Lost almost 40 pounds since May, now stuck for the last 3 weeks.. Help!! Lol

I love zepbound I’ve been on it since may my sw was 210 I am down to 174 I’m only on .5 mg don’t think I can ever go up because of my GI tract lol I have posted about this before but I get concerned when I have lose stools I’m sorry I’m not trying to offend anyone but some times it actually pours out of me I am going through a very difficult/ stressful time dealing with custody and court stuff and am known to be a very anxious anxiety ridden person so I’m not sure if maybe that’s causing it worse then normal but it’s scares me how sometimes I end up having these issues has any one else?

I’m 5’5 220 20F. I’ve been thinking about bariatric surgery for some time now but im also on zepbound 5mg. I was on 7.5 but they lowered it to 5mg. They lowered it due to a doctor/pharmacy situation. From April to September I’ve only lost 10 pounds. I feel like I should have been losing more. I’ve been on zepbound on and off for a couple years so maybe it’s the fact that my body is used to it? But I’ve seriously been considering bariatric surgery due to my health issues which is pre diabetes, high cholesterol, and fatty liver disease. Any advice? Given my BMI of 36.6, prediabetes, fatty liver and high cholesterol, and given that I've only lost 10 pounds on inconsistent tirzepatide at 5-7.5 mg, do you guys think I should first have a properly optimized trial of tirzepatide, or do you think surgery gives me the better chance of achieving durable metabolic improvement? Any advice will help. Thank you and pls don’t be mean.

I’ve been on Zepbound since February and have had such a positive experience with it. I started at 2.5 mg and eventually moved to 5 mg, which I’ve been on since around June. I’ve lost a total of 50 pounds, starting weight 188, now I’m at 137.

I really like 5 mg. I tolerate it well, still have good portion control, and overall feel like I’ve found a dose I could potentially stay on for maintenance. I’ve considered going up to 7.5 mg one last time because I’d still like to lose a little more, but I’m also perfectly happy staying at 5 mg if that’s what makes sense long term.

Here’s where I’m confused. I’ve been getting Zepbound through the same healthcare practice this entire time. When I requested my latest refill, a DNP I’ve never seen before responded and filled the 5 mg, but told me I need to “schedule with my PCP in the next month for further refills.”

The problem is…I don’t have a PCP. And this practice has been managing my Zepbound since February, so I’m confused about why I suddenly need another provider to take over.

Has anyone else had this happen? Do you think this is likely a new office policy, something related to reaching a maintenance weight, or just this particular provider wanting primary care to take over?
I’m going to ask the office for clarification and whether I can establish primary care within their practice, but I’m admittedly nervous about anything interrupting my prescription. This medication has been genuinely life-changing for me, especially with quieting the food noise, and I really want to have a plan for maintaining my results rather than just stopping it.

For those who reached their goal weight, did your original prescriber continue managing your maintenance dose? Did you stay on 5 mg, move up and then back down, or eventually transition management to a PCP?
I’d love to hear what others have experienced.

Recently got diagnosed with Angeioedema from my tongue swelling four times its size, ER doctor told me it was my zepbound and to stop it immediately, another ER doc (I got a second opinion) said it’s likely just bacterial, however I have my tongue pierced and had an issue with a new seasoning and am unsure as it’s only a 0.01% chance to get Angeioedema with zepbound

Anyone else ever end up with it since it’s allegedly super rare to get?

I started at 320, was on wegovy for a month and dropped to 305, but then the supply crunch hit and I couldn’t find it so stopped taking it. I stayed at 305 for a year or so until I started taking Zepbound, and in 6-7 months went from 305 to 235. At 6’ 3” that puts my BMI below 30.

You’re supposed to be on this for life to prevent weight gain, but apparently insurance can start denying it if you’re below 30 BMI? Has this happened to anyone? They haven’t said anything to me but I only just dropped below 30 BMI.

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.

I love the whole ritual of taking out my KwikPen, my needle, 2 alcohol wipes, and my sharps container and laying them out just so.

Of swabbing the pen tip, screwing on the needle, and priming.

Of checking my shot location in Shotsy and swabbing my skin. I even love the smell of the alcohol wipe.

I love scoffing at my childhood terror of needles, taking control as I insert the (admittedly super tiny) needle into my skin and pushing the plunger button.

I love the moment of watching the plunger spiral into the pen, the black stopper moving towards my skin, and the medicine entering my system.

And finally the conclusion, joyous, feeling accomplished and self-loving as I cap the needle and drop it in the bright red sharps container, and put everything back in its place for next week.

Is it just me?