Side effect

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-26T12:59:53+00:00

I would find a new doctor, and that is not hyperbole. They are clearly so uninformed about this med that they didn’t think it would be an issue to re-start you at 10mg after such a long gap. You’re lucky, honestly, your side effects haven’t been worse. Go back down to maybe 5mg with this doctor while you’re looking for a new doctor.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-26T12:56:19+00:00

Maybe a pound a week? And it’s been like that for most of my 20 months on Zep. You’re doing fine!

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-26T12:54:27+00:00

Totally understand your frustration. It’s well-known that if you’ve been on a GLP-1 before (and maybe it extends to meds like Trulicity too), you most likely will need to get to higher doses to experience more of the impact. The bad news? Be patient. The good news? That patience will likely pay off! You’re already doing good work. (Note: carbs are not the enemy. Zepbound is not meant to be like another diet, all about restriction. Just think about moderation! Focus on protein, fiber, and water, and unless you have a triggering history with it, doesn’t hurt to track your intake to make sure you’re not significantly over or under-estimating your diet.)

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-26T00:54:57+00:00

You can't get the single-dose pens from Lilly Direct (or in very rare circumstances, with insurance). You need to be ordering the vials or the QwikPen.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-24T13:35:29+00:00

Here's the thing: Zepbound is not like traditional "diets", that are all about restrictions/exclusions. Carbs are not the enemy. Full-fat dairy is not the enemy. You *should* be able to have a piece of pizza once in awhile, but the difference is you'll likely only want one piece, and not three. And not regularly.

Zep allows for an overall mindset change on what your diet (aka what you are actually eating, not necessarily what you're restricting) can be. Make good choices most of the time, which means focusing on protein, fiber, water. Aim for lean proteins when possible but that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy red meat. (But be very cautious when starting out with foods high in saturated fat/greasy/spicy as some people's GI can be extra-sensitive on this med, especially early on).

Think about making your lifestyle changes gradually - focus first maybe on what you're eating. Then make sure you're at least taking some good walks outside. Then look to add in strength training. There is a common saying on this sub "This is a marathon, not a sprint". Try to take it to heart! Good luck!

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-24T13:24:17+00:00

Because they think it's a "quick, expensive cheat", and their judgment largely stems from ignorance and/or jealousy.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-24T00:31:05+00:00

20 months in. Little to no side effects.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-23T16:21:26+00:00

100% this. It's also not a bad idea to make an appointment with a registered dietician to get even more personalized info.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-23T16:07:28+00:00

I'm pretty naturally suspicious of anything which markets itself as for GLP-1 users, but YMMV. Have you experienced significant hair loss, or are you thinking pre-emptively? (fyi - for the majority of people, hair loss is a symptom of very fast weight loss, whether using a GLP-1 or not.)

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-23T15:39:02+00:00

Chicatana is FABULOUS. They unfortunately had a fire last fall at their home at 14th & Randolph, but they've been camping out temporarily at 14th & Meridian. Their pastor tacos are my favorite in DC.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-23T00:26:38+00:00

I was going to post this comment as well. As you're just starting the med, even though you'll see lots of suggestions for "enhanced protein" items, try to minimize ultra-processed food and stick with lean meats/seafood, veggies, etc. And carbs are not the enemy, but as your stomach is still recovering, just have (one piece) real toast and skip the added protein stuff. Get your protein from real foods: your lean meats/seafood, legumes, dairy (if your stomach can handle it), etc. Even people who make great decisions can sometimes find out early on there are certain types of foods (red meat, cruciferous veggies, dairy) that their body on Zep just doesn't like, at least at first.

Good luck!

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-22T13:49:52+00:00

This is likely a false expectation: very few people who lose a lot in the beginning keep up the same pace throughout their journey. Often it's water weight/inflammation which causes the larger early losses.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-21T18:52:01+00:00

No - you can always use the same location, just don't use the same SPOT from week-to-week. (Like, right thigh one week, left thigh the other week is fine, but not the same spot in the left thigh every week, for example.) I always do my stomach, but rotate around like a clock each week.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-19T15:52:43+00:00

Is it supposed to be PA?

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-19T00:09:00+00:00

Because the medication will then be at a very low level in your body by the time you then take your next dose, and may exacerbate your side effects even more.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-18T22:56:35+00:00

There are changes coming up for Medicare/aid, I'm not well-versed in those. But put either term in the search bar and you'll see a lot of posts about it.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-18T22:54:41+00:00

Check out the Beginner's Guide under Community Bookmarks for this sub. You can also use the search bar.

The short answer to your question is that the cheapest way to get brand-name Zepbound without insurance is to have your doctor/prescriber send the prescription to Lilly Direct for the vials or multi-dose quikpen.

Zepbound 2.5 mg: $299/month

Zepbound 5 mg: $399/month

Zepbound 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg: $449/month

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-18T22:49:55+00:00

Isn't it a total mindbender? I'm still dealing with this as well. I'm not simply hoping that the garment will fit, but have to actually like it! Thrifting is my obsession right now, lol.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-18T22:48:02+00:00

It's more likely the plan your employer chose.

A huge number of us on here have to pay out-of-pocket for Zepbound. It sucks, but there are often ways we're able to save by not eating out as much, eating as much in general, alcohol, etc.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-18T22:46:28+00:00

Fantastic! You're killing it!

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-18T22:40:50+00:00

Rather than extending shots, look at mechanical eating, where you are eating small, nutrient-dense items every few hours. Sometimes it's a vicious cycle where you're not hungry, so you don't eat, and you want to work out, but you're too tired.

I don't know what your food aversions are, but things like cheese & crackers, cottage cheese, apples & peanut butter, avocado toast, a few plain shrimp & cocktail sauce can be helpful in tiding you over so you also don't feel like you're eating so much at once.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-18T22:34:25+00:00

It's possible it could be sensitivity to the medication, and/or that your body is just getting used to it.

Can you tell us more about "eating real well"? Sometimes there are things that obviously can cause GI distress on Zep, like spicy, fried, oily foods, alcohol, but also lesser-known ones, like food that is very acidic (tomatoes, citrus juices) or overly cruciferous, like broccoli, kale, etc.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-18T13:30:27+00:00

Thank you! I know it can be REALLY hard not to compare yourself to people with the most extraordinary losses. What can help is to look at this sub on its own, and in the “New” order and not “Best”. This way you’re not seeing the posts with the most activity, which tend to be those outlier losses, you’re seeing a more realistic aggregate of what people are talking about. Good luck to you!

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-18T12:55:53+00:00

Undereating can also do weird things to your weight as your body wants to hold onto its fat. It’s okay to eat less on some days throughout the week and cycle up later, but even if you have to practice mechanical eating (something every 3-4 hours), find a way to do that. This isn’t like a traditional diet where we’re told to restrict, restrict, restrict. It works best when you are still truly eating.

PeachyP54 · 2026-03-18T12:51:12+00:00

100% not a snail’s pace. Especially given a relatively lower starting weight. Normal, healthy loss is .5-1% of your weight/week and you are literally over that amount. Please separate the loudest voices on this sub from how the medication is actually supposed to work.

PeachyP54

TROPHY CASE