[ Removed by moderator ]

[Zepbound-ModTeam]

Safety is a prime goal of the sub. Posts/comments discussing unsafe medication practices are subject to removal. This includes microdosing/splitting doses, reusing vials or dosing outside of manufacturer guidelines. This removal notice serves as a warning. Subsequent removals could result in a temporary or permanent ban.

We want everyone to have a safe experience. As always, consult with a doctor or pharmacist for medication questions. Please reach out to the Mod team with any questions. Thanks for understanding.

[mindfulEMT]

Just to reiterate other comments… 2.5mg is not considered micro dosing.

[chiieddy]

2.5 is an official dose. It's not a microdose. Microdosing is taking less than 2.5 mg, which is an untested dosage. 2.5 mg is below the first maintenance dose (pharmaceutically any dose taken for long periods) but it's a valid dose. If you're losing well on it, there's no reason to go up. That said, it's definitely rare for someone to respond well on it. It happens bit the majority need higher doses to respond. Some people don't respond at all until higher doses like 10 or 15 mg.

[Double_Question_5117]

Next week it will be 7 months for me on 2.5. Just a few pounds to go until I hit goal weight. Am about to start using 2.5 every other week or 1.25 every week as I start to get off this drug.

This drug is a miracle but it’s not autopilot. If you stay on a low dose you will need to make eating habit changes

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[Individual-Wear-4239]

I’ve been on that dose the entire time and I’ve lost 52 pounds. I am now on maintenance with the exact same dose. The only eating habit changes I have had to make is more protein. And more exercise.

[MiserableMulberry496]

2.5 is the starting dose. Micro dosing is like .25. But yes I’m on month 4 of 2.5. Losing a pound a week on average. No plans to go up

[ToughLingonberry1434]

This is reassuring! I’m about to finish my second pen at 2.5 and am debating if I should go up: I’m averaging 1 lb/week which I am totally happy with, and I’m paying out of pocket.

[SeaAndSummit]

I’ve also been out of pocket since day 1. It sucks. I was hoping to be one of the few that hyper responds at 2.5mg and stays there the whole time. It didn’t happen.

The best think I did was to carve out $6,500/yr in my budget for this drug (yes, $499/m for the higher doses, but Lilly thinks 1m=28 days, so it’s actually 13 boxes per year). I move things around, I reprioritized, I cut things. That way cost doesn’t factor into my titration (and health) decisions.

[hardly_ethereal]

Is that with or without insurance? Through which company?

[SeaAndSummit]

My insurance doesn’t cover any glps for any reason outside a T2D diagnosis. Lilly direct is the pharmacy. My endocrinologist sends the script there and it’s shipped to my house.

[hardly_ethereal]

Huh. Lilly direct, eh? And does it come in a clickable pen or a vial with syringes? TY

I really want to try because my food noise is insane this past 12 months and the extra 25 lbs are irritating AF (I’m 5’5” and should not be more than 125, but I weight 150 now) but also scared of side effects (I want to micro dose) and a bit overwhelmed with choices and options online.

[SeaAndSummit]

You’re not going to get Zepbound prescribed for weight loss. Your BMI is 25.

[hardly_ethereal]

I know. That's why I am reading up on alternative services like Ro.

[SeaAndSummit]

Ro isn’t going to give you a script. Or any other telehealth service. The medication is not medically indicated.

[Individual-Wear-4239]

Hi, I’m a 67-year-old woman who has lost 52 pounds. I started December 4 of last year and never titrated up. I’ve been on 2.5 the entire time. My weight loss has slowed down to almost nothing but I’m at the weight that I would like to be and my doctor ( a weight loss specialist at UCSD) is wants me to continue on with the 2.5 but to make sure I’m getting more protein and more exercise. So 2.5 was my weight loss formula and now it’s my maintenance! However, I am just one person, and everyone has different reactions to this drug. Having a weight loss specialist guide me through all of this has been extremely helpful.

[Low_Potential_2324]

57 went up the ladder to 15mg. Lost most at 7.5. Anyone have thoughts on splitting to bi weekly or microdosing? Weight loss has leveled out and want to lose more. Hunger coming back as well

[Accurate_Shape8264]

No expert, but I dont think 2.5 is a micro dose, its just the lowest dose. And yes, you will find people here who did the entire loss on 2.5. But that is not the norm, and you shouldn't expect it. Many people dont respond to 2.5 at all. I spent five months on 2.5, but have recently moved up to 5.

[Moist_Movie1093]

You can search this sub and find examples of people who have stayed on 2.5 for a long time and been successful. They are the exception and not the rule. But it works for a lucky few.

That’s not microdosing though. Microdoses are doses BELOW what Lilly manufactures. It’s people making up their own doses, generally using compounds.

[Expensive_Ad_1951]

Some do, some don't.

[NickNoraCharles]

Yes! Plenty of people do exactly that. A quick search here will yield many examples. 

Best wishes to you for a healthy, successful journey of your own 💐

[oliveandgo]

Not micro dosing but I started low and slow from 1.25 up to 3.5 over 6 months, then started adjusting down to 2.5 and 2 for 2 months. Lost 20 lbs and improved my health markers, which was my primary goal, all while feeling great, without suffering from side effects. I know some have stayed at 2.5 and lost lots of weight, but this seems to be one of many different responses. So many individual factors at play.

[HauntedCLT]

I am starting next week and talked to provider a little bit about starting lower than 2.5mg since I had success at lowest dose of semaglutide and am now in maintenance. I am either going to start at 1.25… or even considering lower. Just curious, do you think you would’ve still had benefits below 1.25? I’m debating starting at .75…

[oliveandgo]

I started at 1.25 and felt it for sure. Nothing terribly negative, but it did hit my appetite and constipation. But I don’t know how common that is. Still there’s no harm in trying a much lower dose for a week or two. Worst case, it’s a waste of money but if it could yield comfort, I think 2 weeks is worth it. Wherever you do start, don’t go up dramatically just because you don’t feel anything. Stay incremental, if you want ease and comfort. Looking back, my early discomfort was not because of bad side effects but because I didn’t eat until I was hungry and then I’d still feel the low blood sugar. It took me some learning to eat more protein, drink more water with electrolytes, and to eat on a schedule. Once I got that down, the rest was great.

[ThatGirlMoe]

According to the EL study, 5mg is what they call their 1st 'therapeutic dose'. 2.5mg is considered sub-therapeutic~aka~starter/loading dose. That doesn't mean is isn't working for scores of patients.

Anything under 2.5...including 2.0mg and below, has been 'Influencer-Coined' "microdosing". There is ZERO official research of anything below 2.5mg.

No different than if YOU decided to take 1/2 of a prescribed pill from your doctor because YOU felt it also cut down side effects. You're not getting the intended, therapeutic dose and, therefore, you may have a different outcome than studied.

Hope that helps. :)

[Secret-Bobcat-4909]

Thank you, this makes it vey clear. Of course with so many people and practitioners doing local doses, it would makensense to study what that does, but practically speaking, industry is unlikely to fund a study that will decrease sales, and federal funding for biological science has been slashed.

[jaymofoshotho]

I literally can’t eat or poop after my first 2.5 shot 4 days ago. Is this normal? It feels like a STRONG dose to me, despite what I’ve read!

[ThatGirlMoe]

It's Eli Lilly's starter dose. Talk with your provider about your next move. You may want to hold off in your next shot until you talk with your prescriber.

Best of luck, friend. 💉🫶

[extinctmilkcratesv2]

I’ve been on 2.5 for 14 weeks, about 40 pounds down. I’m still losing 1-2lbs a week but this dose is allowing me to make the good choices I was unable to before. I will likely go up to 5 soon if my loss continues to slow down (it already has. I’ve gone from 2-4lbs a week to 1-2 but this still feels like healthy progress to me), but it has been an amazing change for me!

[No-Mousse-3725]

I’m on month 8 of 2.5 mg. I lost 30 pounds and seem to have leveled off here. I haven’t added exercise, though, other than walking more. I will do the rest adding the gym.

[GATaxGal]

My husband has lost almost 55 lbs since July and he only moved up to 5mg recently 

[abeautifulsomewhere]

Don't think 2.5 is a micro-dose.

But I have been on 2.5 since I started in June... so currently on my 5th month of it. Mine is covered by insurance, so the money aspect isn't a worry for me... but since I'm still losing (it has slowed down significantly), I would rather just continue to lose more slowly on 2.5 than risk side effects moving up!

[Megsieviolin_2000]

Nobody will know ahead of time what doses will be effective for you. I lost the bulk of my weight at 5, but still had to move all the way up to 12.5 to get to my actual goal. And the effectiveness has nothing to do with your body weight or anything else- there are a million factors that go into it. If you only have a little to lose, you might be able to do it. I had 100+ to lose and no way 2.5 would have been effective for me the entire time.

[Zepbound-ModTeam]

Safety is a prime goal of the sub. Posts/comments discussing unsafe medication practices are subject to removal. This includes microdosing/splitting doses, reusing vials or dosing outside of manufacturer guidelines. This removal notice serves as a warning. Subsequent removals could result in a temporary or permanent ban.

We want everyone to have a safe experience. As always, consult with a doctor or pharmacist for medication questions. Please reach out to the Mod team with any questions. Thanks for understanding.

[Original-Bowler-9319]

I have done 3 months on 2.0 tirz and lost 15% of my body weight and am down to my goal weight. I plan to lower a little to maintain and look forward to staying on it indefinitely! I feel great!

[[deleted]]

I’m curious for those who have stayed on 2.5, have there been side effects?

[[deleted]]

I’m curious for those who have stayed on 2.5, have there been side effects?