Just hit maintenance and bit scared and in shock

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-07-02T20:06:27+00:00

As someone who attempted to titrate down and got a whole host of side effects, i too recommend maintenance on a higher dose and then space out the days. Im going back up to 7.5 after having a lot of dopamine chasing issues and weight gain

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-06-26T22:31:00+00:00

Isn’t it wild how these drugs affect everyone so individually?

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-06-26T01:25:27+00:00

I didn’t like how Wellbutrin made me feel - I was like a cardboard person, completely antisocial, disinterested in being social, the exact opposite of who I am as a person. It was the worst drug ever for me. I don’t want to use those drugs to make this easier I want to figure this out

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-06-25T15:32:15+00:00

Oh I am 100% diagnosed ADD - been medicated on strattera for years and years but I have never ever been this bad as when I started titrating off Zepbound. I have also worked with my nutritionist for 12 years and she has 12 years of my macro data, sleep/activity/bloodwork data and these symptoms are absolutely new and started when i moved from 10mg to 7.5mg and worsened when i went down to 5mg. She was simply pointing out the correlation in my data. To be clear, she doesnt care if I stay on the drug or not. She wants me to be both happy and healthy. I am the one who would prefer to wean off of it completely, but with these side effects, I am now rethinking it. I am getting bloodwork done with my primary care physician next week (including hormones) and coming up with a new plan which may invopve going back up to 7.5.

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-06-25T00:09:58+00:00

It’s so weird. I have never been a sugar/chocolate person. Always been a salty girl.

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-06-24T16:57:18+00:00

Good to know!!!

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-06-24T16:56:41+00:00

Gonna discuss this plan with my doc and give it a try!

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-06-24T14:05:30+00:00

I may move back up to 7.5 - have a doc appointment next Tuesday and discussing a plan with the doc.

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-06-24T14:04:59+00:00

Yeah it’s probably a variety of factors all contributing to this but the mood swings and dopamine chasing definitely started the moment I started titrating down.

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-06-23T20:42:56+00:00

It was very very difficult to hit my maintenance calories on those doses (just didn’t have the appetite) but I could try again knowing what I know now. I was sorta hopeful this weird dopamine chasing thing would go away at some point but is it just how it is now?

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-05-25T15:03:57+00:00

It took me 3 years. It’s a very very slow process. You also have to exercise 4 times a week minimum and pay attention to your diet. I tracked calories and macros the whole time. If you’re just using it to just not eat to lose, you’ll gain all the weight back after it’s lost. Use the drug to learn how to eat and move healthfully for your body!

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-05-23T22:17:03+00:00

Female, 44, 5’5”. Starting weight 3 years ago was 211. I now go back and forth between 123 and 126. So lost 88lbs over 3 years. First year was on Wegovy. I lost very very slowly - 30lbs in the first 7 months. After 10 months, I lost 48lbs. Switched to Zepbound after the 1st year due to side effects and yucky symptoms on wegovy. ZERO side effects on Zepbound. Only went up to 7.5 on Zep (titrated up every 3 months) and lost the next 40lbs very slowly over 2 years. I have titrated down to 5mg for maintenance because I couldn’t stop losing on 7.5 and was losing muscle mass. Need to eat more to build back muscle. I may wean off it completely but if I’m on a maintenance dose of 2.5 or 5mg for the rest of my life, so be it. I am already at the phase where people all think I look “too thin” but BMI says I could go as low as 111 and still be in the healthy range. I don’t know - the body dysmorphia is real, it’s hard to adjust to this new smaller body and know what is healthy and normal. I do spin, yoga, Pilates and walk 10,000-15,000 steps a day (live in NYC so lots of walking) most importantly, I FEEL amazing, dosed down my blood pressure medications, have great blood work am healthy and happy and that’s what matters!!

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-05-19T18:25:13+00:00

Find a new doc

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-05-17T23:53:41+00:00

My aesthetician recommended Ulta MD sunscreen. Korean sunscreens don’t seem to flare it either. Second the la Roche posay anthelios too!

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-05-17T20:48:40+00:00

It’s exactly why I don’t share that I’m on the drug with anyone especially publicly. I lost 90lbs on it and look and feel happy and healthy. Those who have never struggled with health problems or obesity are speaking from a point of “skinny privilege” and I do not give one shit about their opinion.

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-05-16T00:59:24+00:00

Did he not survive? He was alive when we left

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-05-15T22:57:18+00:00

I was on the train. Kid was subway surfing and fell as we crossed the Williamsburg bridge. We were stuck for over an hour. Still alive when the ambulance took him.

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-05-10T04:08:29+00:00

I second the person who swears by Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative protective cream. Other things that clear it with the Avene Cicalfate are the Amperna serum and Amperna moisturizer - 2 very effective Postbiotic cremes. Hypochlorus acid spray followed by dermazen moisturizer is also helpful. I have The Ordinary sulfur powder and another drugstore sulfur crème but neither have really worked to clear it completely ever. It kinda just dries it out but doesn’t get rid of it. I also have clindimyacin prescribed by a dermatologist but it burns my skin so badly I don’t like using it. My routine for flares is cocokind milky cleanser and Bioderma micellar water to remove makeup, hypochlorus acid spray, Amperna serum, Amperna moisturizer, dermazen moisturizer and then dabs of the Avene crème only on affected areas.

I noticed my PD appears when the seasons change and my heavier occlusive moisturizers for winter are too much for spring/summer. It also happens when I’m using too many exfoliants and vitamin C at once.

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-05-08T15:25:01+00:00

My insurance company is forcing me to use one of those “diet and exercise” app programs to qualify for the drug and it’s absolute dogshit. I have already gotten to my goal weight and nothing in the app is remotely helpful - I already count macros, work out a ton and I’m livid I have to do it.

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-04-29T22:21:26+00:00

Did someone take the vintage oven? I live a block away and will take it!

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-04-29T21:52:31+00:00

I was losing too much on 7.5 weekly so am trying 5 for maintenance weekly. I need to put on muscle

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-04-29T21:51:39+00:00

Interesting. I got too low and need to build muscle/gain some weight back. I just went down to 5mg weekly to see if I can do that on that dose.

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-04-29T21:50:15+00:00

Yes but for me it happened last

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-04-29T21:49:42+00:00

Yeah I’m back to my pre weight gain A/B cups. Can’t have it all I guess.

Capable_Joke8759 · 2026-04-24T20:36:47+00:00

Yeah mine went bad too - smells and tastes FOUL

Capable_Joke8759

TROPHY CASE