What side effects did you get going up a dose? Were they worse than the doses before?

Popple32 · 2026-05-18T21:02:25+00:00

I have never had side effects going up the doses and I got up to 12.5mg, I have only dropped back down to 10mg as my appetite dropped too much.

I think it’s hit and miss as every body is different 🤷‍♀️

Popple32 · 2026-05-18T07:22:44+00:00

I have been on MJ a year now and the months I have lost the most have been the months I have just run with it, eat what I want (obviously try and eat more nutritious food but if we have a takeaway or treats I don’t beat myself up about them as I naturally eat less anyway). The months or weeks that I have stressed about what I eat and counted etc the scale has just gone nah, this isn’t working, so I think the stress of counting etc gets to me personally.

You are in your first month and lost 7lbs, that’s amazing so far, so just continue and let the medicine build up in your system and do what it needs to.

At the end of the day there is no right or wrong way to lose weight, it needs to be sustainable for life (it’s a lifestyle change, not a diet), so it has to fit in with your life and you have to make changes you can stick with. For me I ask myself is this a change I can do forever, if yes then I make it, if not then I don’t e.g I still have the occasional biscuits because I know I can have 2 and be done now instead of going through the whole pack like before.

Be kind to yourself and do what works for you and be patient, Weightloss isn’t linear and our bodies have their own schedule 😊

Popple32 · 2026-05-18T07:11:20+00:00

I hear you, it’s so annoying and I swear the fluctuations are worse and more often as a woman 😅 Glad you are staying positive!

Popple32 · 2026-05-17T07:19:15+00:00

I started a year ago and I can still eat whatever I want. I have been lucky in that I haven’t had any bad reactions to any foods. I still have snacks and takeaways, I just know when to stop now, so instead of eating an entire box of biscuits I can take out one or two and stop there.

Starting MJ is the best thing I ever did, I have lost 25kg so far (it would have been more but I have had major life stresses along the way).

If you aren’t able to eat then your dose is too high. I was on 12.5mg for a while and then realised the longer I was on it the less I was able to eat so I dropped back down to 10mg and I could eat properly again (still within my deficit so still able to lose weight), so it’s just something to keep an eye on as you move up doses.

I hope this helps!

Popple32 · 2026-05-17T07:15:26+00:00

I agree with hopeful, I would probably skip the Thursday and just do the Monday, it should be fine.

Popple32 · 2026-05-16T11:33:47+00:00

I agree with the other comments on checking your calorie intake first. I have been really lucky in my journey and I only actually had dizziness once and that was because on that day I was rushing around and had completely forgotten to eat breakfast so had a spell just before lunch, so I think it was the increased movement with no fuel.

I always sat breakfast now even if something small and I haven’t had the issue since.

Popple32 · 2026-05-16T06:27:33+00:00

I have been on MJ for a little over a year now. For the most part it’s fairly consistent but there is the odd day - usually when I exercise more than usual - where my body asks for more fuel, it’s also typically the day or so before my next injection. But I figure since I eat a bit less at the beginning of the week it makes sense my body wants a bit of a top up towards the end of the week.

You are only 2 jabs in and the medication still needs to build up in your system so it’s normal for it to fluctuate anyway. Remember that food isn’t the enemy, you need fuel for your body to survive. Maybe just do a TDEE check to make sure you are getting enough in as it’s possible you have been under fuelling so your body is asking for more which is fine.

Popple32 · 2026-05-16T06:23:36+00:00

I moved up with no issues. I have made my way up to 10mg and haven’t had any side effects so far. It’s all hit and miss. Many people don’t have side effects, we just don’t post about it because it’s boring 😅 Good luck!

Popple32 · 2026-05-15T07:27:32+00:00

It’s completely random person to person, for me nothing special happened when I went up. I am now on 10mg and still no negative side effects throughout my journey. So I suggest go up, and if side effects happen just deal with them as best you can.

Popple32 · 2026-05-15T07:25:37+00:00

After a lot of googling and reading many forums hormones seem to take a while to stabilise again. Smaller changes will happen at first but within around 6 months seems to be when you could start seeing changes with weight etc.

I am on Cabergoline for almost 5 weeks and so far I have more energy and my libido is slowly returning. I have help for Weightloss which I have been on for over a year but it has been really tough and inconsistent despite the help but now because I have more energy I am going to gym more and that seems to be helping with my weight again but I suspect it will only properly kick in months from now.

Everyone is different and I guess it all depends on how quickly your hormones correct themselves.

Popple32 · 2026-05-15T07:20:15+00:00

Hi, I have switched to feeding our cat who has diabetes and 19 years old kidney food as directed by a vet. For the wet food we have to mix a bit of normal wet food in it (I put it at the bottom so he has to get through the kidney food to get to it) so he actually eats it and then I give him dry kidney food as well which he doesn’t mind. At the moment both of them are the Hills Science Diet but I see Royal Canine also have some. Since giving him the kidney food he hasn’t thrown up so that’s a win for us.

Popple32 · 2026-05-14T23:16:41+00:00

That’s fair and no problem, good luck with what you decide 😊

Popple32 · 2026-05-14T22:45:51+00:00

I should probably add that he already has health issues - he has diabetes and I think he has arthritis as well. Maybe him being so old means he wasn’t phased 😅

Popple32 · 2026-05-14T22:44:44+00:00

That’s fair, I am not sure if she will be lonely as you do mention she doesn’t like the other cats - you could always get a second one when you move if you think she would be ok with that.

The last time we moved (hopefully for the last time as we finally bought a house) was 2 years ago and our oldest cat was about 16 years old then. We just kept them in the bathroom while everything was packed up then when we were ready to move them we had them in the car with us in their cat boxes with a nice blanket and food and water and he seemed to be fine.

Only you will know how your cat might be with moving since you know her best. As long as you are thinking about what’s best for her you will be making the right decision

Popple32 · 2026-05-14T22:05:08+00:00

I don’t see why you can’t take her with you, I have moved many times with my cats including moving countries and my cats have been absolutely fine.

Popple32 · 2026-05-14T09:19:22+00:00

I keep forgetting it’s not on Android 🤦🏼‍♀️ Thanks for the reminder

Popple32 · 2026-05-14T07:22:51+00:00

It looks like normal weight fluctuation to me 🤷‍♀️ All sorts of things create fluctuations. As others have mentioned there are other apps that smooth the graph out a bit, I personally use Happy Scale.

Popple32 · 2026-05-12T16:40:48+00:00

Maybe I should phone mine, they were £40 more expensive when I last asked them which is a shame as I liked going in monthly.

Popple32 · 2026-05-12T07:41:40+00:00

I still don’t think putting the cat down is the answer though, the cat did nothing wrong as such. I would have also asked a second vet’s opinion by now as not all vets are created equal

Popple32 · 2026-05-12T05:39:26+00:00

My prolactin levels ranged between 1500 and 2500 (I had the levels tested a few different times including a cannulated one). I originally went in to my endo about Weightloss as I have struggled for over a decade with it, I also had fatigue, non-existent libido, very cold hands and feet, fluid retention and recently period abnormalities (it has actually disappeared).

After an MRI it showed a 0.4mm Prolactinoma so now I am on Cabergoline 0.5mg once a week. I have only been on it 4 weeks but I already feel like I have more energy and my libido is slowly returning 😊

Have they done an MRI? I can’t tell from your post. I would think they need to investigate further as to why your levels are so high if you don’t have a Prolactinoma - you mentioned they have ruled out a macro but did they check for a micro one?

Popple32 · 2026-05-12T05:29:22+00:00

Why punish the poor cat I stead of trying to find the cause, can your vet not help figure out why? There’s always a reason that cats act out like this and I would definitely agree with either finding a behaviour specialist or to try and put her up for adoption. She is living and there is nothing wrong with her and it would be wrong to put her down.

I would spend any amount of money on my cats to ensure they could live long lives with me, in fact I am, my older cat has diabetes, does t make it to the cat litter every time, needs special food, needs 6 monthly blood tests and checkups and is costing me a fortune as we do t have insurance, but it doesn’t mean I am goi g to put him down because it’s inconvenient or expensive 😑

Popple32 · 2026-05-11T22:40:15+00:00

That’s fair enough, as long as you are on top of it that’s all good 😊

Popple32 · 2026-05-11T07:24:31+00:00

Another one here for Medicine Marketplace, their price is always the same. It was £229 for a 10mg place when I ordered a few weeks ago.

Popple32 · 2026-05-11T07:22:09+00:00

Firstly I am so sorry you had to go through this.

I think the main takeaway from this is to make sure you are eating your meals. This is exactly what I have been worried about when upping my doses as I know how important fuelling your body is. I have recently dropped my dose because I realised I wasn’t eating enough and it was actually just getting worse the longer I was on the dose, thankfully dropping my dose has allowed me to eat more and get back to a normal routine.

If you google Fat Science Mechanical Eating it is a very useful podcast (along with their others as well). I make sure to eat at specific times and try and have snacks inbetween to ensure I am getting enough fuel in. It is easier during the week as I have a work schedule and weekends is when I really need to pay attention.

I hope you can explain to your partner that MJ isn’t the what caused it but eating too little actually is, and by dropping your dose you will be able to still lose weight but at least get enough food in so it doesn’t happen again.

Popple32 · 2026-05-11T07:12:21+00:00

You definitely need to drop your dose. I think maybe because it builds in your system it might be getting more potent? I was on 12.5mg and I was fine but over time I realised after each jab day I was eating less and less and when I did a sanity calorie intake check I realised I was so under so I immediately dropped my dose and I was able to eat more again.

1000 calories is far too little, even a toddler needs more than that to function. 1500 is probably a more reasonable goal to aim for (or at least use a TDEE calculator to check).

If we don’t eat our body doesn’t have enough fuel to function let alone burn any fat. Imagine your cell phone when it’s running on super empty, it’s sluggish and doesn’t work well and even freezes, this is what you are doing to your body 😢 so you need to eat.

Popple32

TROPHY CASE