GLP-1 kicking my butt...

T

TheGo

Active member
Okay, I'm on dose number 7, the 3rd at 5mg. 2.5mg was heaven, I shed pounds and was energetic. 5mg? An absolute nightmare. For 48 hours, it's bloating and terrible digestion, then a never-ending cycle of diarrhea and constipation with stomach cramps. Then a splitting headache arrives. I'm constantly tired with muscle aches like I have the flu, and super drowsy.

I've had to miss work events, which is a problem.

After the second 5mg dose, the doc didn't want me back on 2.5mg, saying it wasn't a strong enough dose and told me to wait 10 days instead of 7. My kid also had a stomach bug, so I wasn't even sure if it was that. But after these 10 days and this third dose, same old story.

Just looking for some ideas or support, I can't keep living like this (I have things to do).
 
Don’t think you HAVE to increase your dose just because you’ve been on it for a while. I kept losing on 2.5mg for over half a year. My family doctor, who also specializes in internal medicine, was happy as long as I was losing 3-7 pounds each month. I was consistently losing about 4 pounds a month on 2.5mg and we were both good with that. It took me about a year to drop 50 pounds, but I’m happy I went at my pace. You're in control, so if 2.5mg was working, I'd stay there until you stop seeing weight loss.
 
It varies from person to person. Most patients handle 5mg okay, but I have some who can't. Some even need a different GLP-1. If the 2.5mg was working, stick with it and only increase when you plateau.
 
*Typically*, 2.5mg isn’t considered a therapeutic dose for most. BUT since you were losing on it, and 5mg seems too strong, it very well could be therapeutic *for you*.

Since your doctor didn’t suggest a middle ground dose, I’m assuming you’re in the US with the single-dose pens. If you have a Kwikpen, you can count clicks – 30 for a 2.5mg dose, or 45 for about 3.75mg.

If you have the single-use pens, talk to your doctor about going back to the 2.5mg. It was effective before and might be again. At the very least, you need a break from the digestive issues.

Honestly, you might need a new doctor. You need someone who listens and works with you on your concerns. They should acknowledge that you need to be healthy enough to live your life. I'm surprised they didn't prescribe anti-nausea meds or offer advice for the distress.

I'd also suggest a daily cup of yogurt to help with digestion. The probiotics help. Yogurt stopped my digestive issues completely in Week 3 of 2.5mg, and more probiotics have kept it away ever since, even with dosage increases. I’m in Week 44.

Good luck!
 
I went back down from 5mg to 2.5mg for similar reasons. As I lost weight, the 5mg became too much and the side effects would last until the next dose. I couldn’t even work out. I’ve been back on 2.5mg for a couple weeks and it’s SO much better. Go back down. It's the right dose. Tell your doctor to let you try it. If they won’t, find a new doctor.
 
Find a new doc, maybe? I’ve slowly been moving up to 5mg from 2mg and I'm in week 19. Can't imagine going faster and I'm really happy with my ~30lb loss. Slow but steady. I also need to be sharp for my job!
 
I stopped Mounjaro because of the side effects. I'm a 40-year-old female, 5'7", 185lbs, so I'm overweight, but not enough to stay on Mounjaro and be miserable. I only lost 4lbs in two months. If I'd lost like 15lbs, I would've stayed. But the sacrifices weren't worth only losing 4lbs. I didn’t have nausea or vomiting, probably because I injected in my thigh. Studies suggest that reduces side effects. It was also affecting my mental health. I had severe anhedonia and depression on injection day and the day after. Zero happiness, motivation, or inspiration. I was a depressed zombie for two days each week. Then the constipation... Miralax, fiber, and probiotics didn’t help me have a full bowel movement. Sorry if that's too much info, but it was like little pebbles, and I knew I needed to release more. Days later, I had a hemorrhoid from trying to go. Plus, I can't really drink on Mounjaro. So, I quit. My quality of life was 👎👎, and a 4 lb loss wasn't worth it.
 
Keep at it. Watch your food. Avoid fried, greasy stuff, it'll make you feel terrible on Monjauro/Zepbound.
 
I went back to 2.5mg after being on 5.0mg for about a year. The 5.0mg felt too strong after losing weight and I felt bad after injecting it. My endocrinologist says I'm in remission after losing 54lbs and have been on 2.5mg for 14 months, even though it's not considered a therapeutic dose. A1C is 5.5-5.7.
Hang in there!
 
It took me a whole year to get to 5 mg. Some people respond strongly to lower doses. Your doctor needs to be more flexible unless this is an urgent A1C issue where 5 mg is essential. Diarrhea and constipation can cause serious problems.
 
Ask your doctor to go back to 2.5mg.

If you were losing weight on that dose, he shouldn't have increased it until you plateaued, even if it's not considered a therapeutic dose.

Some lose at low doses, others need higher doses for results.

You seem to be doing well on the lowest dose.

My rule: if you're losing and have no side effects, stay there until you plateau. If you plateau AND have side effects, stay on the dose because increasing it will only make the side effects worse.

Drink 2-3 liters of water daily and take probiotics for gut health. Ask your doctor for Zofran for nausea and what to take for other side effects.

Remember protein and hydration are key.

Good luck
 
Your doctor is wrong. Everyone reacts differently. Listen to your body! Also, your eating habits might be making the GI symptoms worse. Need more info to offer better suggestions.
 
SlightlyLess88 said:
Also, your eating habits might be making the GI symptoms worse. Need more info to offer better suggestions.
Click to expand...

That's a good point. I am eating pretty clean. Mostly chicken, steamed veggies, and some brown rice. I drink plenty of water and try to get some fiber in. Maybe I need more?
 
Constipation is a very common issue with these medications. I often recommend my patients increase their water intake to at least 3 liters a day, and incorporate more fiber, especially vegetables like green beans and zucchini.
 
I was having some serious constipation issues. Turns out, I wasn't drinking enough water. Once I upped my water intake and started adding some fiber gummies, things started moving a lot better.
 
I second the water and fiber recommendations. Sometimes, even with enough water and fiber, things can still get backed up. Magnesium citrate can help, but it's not something you want to rely on long-term. Prunes or kiwi fruit can also be a natural way to get things moving.
 
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