I've done 7 injections so far. Tuesday was my most recent one, at 7.5. Sure, the pace of my increase is fast, I realize that, but nothing bad has happened to me except that zero pounds have come off. On top of that, my hunger is out of control. When does this stuff actually kick in? I'm considering adding ret.
Triz weightloss issues
- Thread starter TeresaHip
- Start date
CheesyPotato
Explorer
Responses vary from person to person. Moving up in dose won't necessarily speed up weight loss. In fact, it could bring on unwanted side effects, though you're likely aware of that already 
Has your hunger been reduced? Do you feel satisfied sooner? I tend to respond slowly myself; I gradually worked my way to 15 and then hit a plateau starting in November. During the first week I noticed appetite and fullness effects, yet the number on the scale barely budged—however, I went down 2 clothing sizes. Have you felt your clothes fitting more loosely?
Has your hunger been reduced? Do you feel satisfied sooner? I tend to respond slowly myself; I gradually worked my way to 15 and then hit a plateau starting in November. During the first week I noticed appetite and fullness effects, yet the number on the scale barely budged—however, I went down 2 clothing sizes. Have you felt your clothes fitting more loosely?
lessthanhalf
Explorer
Before any of this — have you used other GLPs? Had you already dropped weight prior to starting? And what's your age, height and weight?
If the first two answers are no, then it doesn't sound like you're very sensitive to GLP's. By 7.5mg most people would be feeling some appetite suppression, some nausea, or at least a little weight loss. My advice would be to stay on tirz a while longer — that way you'll know for certain whether it works for you or not. If you begin adding reta, or switch to reta midway, and then you start responding, you won't be able to tell whether tirz was ever doing anything. Weight loss and keeping it off is a long game. Tirz is either the best option there is (fewest side effects) or the second best (how much weight comes off), so being sure about it is worth another month or 2. If you have no side effects at all and no diabetes or other serious conditions, you can move the dose up a little faster. That does carry more risk of unpleasant side effects, but upping doses 2.5mg every 2 weeks with nothing going wrong isn't especially dangerous. The tirz escalation protocol is fairly slow next to the others, and that's mostly a good thing.
Then if you reach 15mg/w with still nothing happening, it may be that your tirz is dodgy — or try reta and see whether it does any better. Either way you'll then know if it's worth using for you. Mix the two up partway through and you won't know at the end. One study picture I saw lately put roughly 5 to 10% of people at minimal weight loss from full doses across a year, so it does happen, and it would be a real disappointment. Also, check your dilution and dosing numbers twice, even three times over — being out by a factor of 10 is such an easy mistake.
If you have another batch of tirz to try, give it a go and see whether it behaves the same. Nobody on here has reported a vial with zero drug in it that I've heard of, but it's possible. Coming from a long-established, well-known vendor makes it less likely. Something off tiktok from a random seller, not so unlikely.
If the first two answers are no, then it doesn't sound like you're very sensitive to GLP's. By 7.5mg most people would be feeling some appetite suppression, some nausea, or at least a little weight loss. My advice would be to stay on tirz a while longer — that way you'll know for certain whether it works for you or not. If you begin adding reta, or switch to reta midway, and then you start responding, you won't be able to tell whether tirz was ever doing anything. Weight loss and keeping it off is a long game. Tirz is either the best option there is (fewest side effects) or the second best (how much weight comes off), so being sure about it is worth another month or 2. If you have no side effects at all and no diabetes or other serious conditions, you can move the dose up a little faster. That does carry more risk of unpleasant side effects, but upping doses 2.5mg every 2 weeks with nothing going wrong isn't especially dangerous. The tirz escalation protocol is fairly slow next to the others, and that's mostly a good thing.
Then if you reach 15mg/w with still nothing happening, it may be that your tirz is dodgy — or try reta and see whether it does any better. Either way you'll then know if it's worth using for you. Mix the two up partway through and you won't know at the end. One study picture I saw lately put roughly 5 to 10% of people at minimal weight loss from full doses across a year, so it does happen, and it would be a real disappointment. Also, check your dilution and dosing numbers twice, even three times over — being out by a factor of 10 is such an easy mistake.
If you have another batch of tirz to try, give it a go and see whether it behaves the same. Nobody on here has reported a vial with zero drug in it that I've heard of, but it's possible. Coming from a long-established, well-known vendor makes it less likely. Something off tiktok from a random seller, not so unlikely.
I spent roughly 4 years on Ozempic, right up until the personal assistance program for Medicare recipients was discontinued. Then there was a 1-month gap before I began tirz. On Ozempic I went from 385 down to 230. During that month off, I climbed back to 240, and I'm now sitting at 250. 
My sister died suddenly, and I turned to stress eating. On top of that, appetite suppression wasn't really hitting me, so overeating came easily. When I first started Oz, my a1c was 72! Through a lot of discipline and the Oz, I brought it to 64! I've been keeping an eye on my blood sugars, particularly with the faster dose increases. They're holding steady. Not low at all.
My sister died suddenly, and I turned to stress eating. On top of that, appetite suppression wasn't really hitting me, so overeating came easily. When I first started Oz, my a1c was 72! Through a lot of discipline and the Oz, I brought it to 64! I've been keeping an eye on my blood sugars, particularly with the faster dose increases. They're holding steady. Not low at all.
Before deciding it's a stall, give it a minimum of 4-8 weeks overall — or wait until you've done 2-4 injections at 7.5-10 mg. Keep an eye on non-scale progress: measurements, how clothes fit, energy levels, blood sugars (already good), and cravings easing with time. Try to keep calories and protein under control as much as you can, even with appetite. If reta is something you want to test, begin with a very small amount and monitor week by week. Honestly though, given that you've only had 7 shots and moved up quickly to 7.5 without problems, I'd stay on tirz alone for a while longer (push to 10 mg next if tolerated) before adding anything, since a lot of people find their groove at 7.5-10 mg after that early "nothing happening" stretch.TeresaHip said:
I spent roughly 4 years on Ozempic, right up until the personal assistance program for Medicare recipients was discontinued. Then there was a 1-month gap before I began tirz. On Ozempic I went from 385 down to 230. During that month off, I climbed back to 240, and I'm now sitting at 250.
I'm sorry about your sister. That shit's brutal, and stress eating is a normal response. You're already crushing the blood sugar side. Hang in there..
lessthanhalf
Explorer
All of those factors clarify quite a bit. For whatever reason, individuals with diabetes tend not to see as strong a weight loss response from GLP medications, though they work very well for controlling blood sugar. Also, the way these drugs act when you're at your starting weight is quite different from how they act once you've already dropped 130 pounds. And since you only stopped ozempic a month ago, you likely still carry some tolerance to the GI side effects. After that much weight loss, hunger is usually elevated and metabolic rate has fallen. On top of that, stress often triggers weight regain, and I'm sorry about your sister.
It's possible that with tirzepatide, your primary and most important goal should be avoiding regaining those 130 pounds. Since tirz is typically more effective than ozempic for weight loss, that ought to be achievable, and ideally you'll lose a bit more too. But when it comes to long-term health, not putting that weight back on will make a huge difference; losing additional weight is beneficial and will help further, though earlier research indicated that shedding 5 or 10% had a major impact on metabolic health.
I can't see any reason why higher doses of tirz wouldn't be effective, particularly since ozempic already worked for you. Having been on ozempic, experiencing high blood sugars at any point, and having lost a substantial amount of weight all help explain why 7.5 mg of tirz isn't producing a dramatic effect. I wouldn't really alter the dosing advice.
It's possible that with tirzepatide, your primary and most important goal should be avoiding regaining those 130 pounds. Since tirz is typically more effective than ozempic for weight loss, that ought to be achievable, and ideally you'll lose a bit more too. But when it comes to long-term health, not putting that weight back on will make a huge difference; losing additional weight is beneficial and will help further, though earlier research indicated that shedding 5 or 10% had a major impact on metabolic health.
I can't see any reason why higher doses of tirz wouldn't be effective, particularly since ozempic already worked for you. Having been on ozempic, experiencing high blood sugars at any point, and having lost a substantial amount of weight all help explain why 7.5 mg of tirz isn't producing a dramatic effect. I wouldn't really alter the dosing advice.
DwightTheDelight
Explorer
I realize things have been tough for you lately, but that earlier big drop is worth celebrating. There's a solid chance tirz at higher doses will work for you. My mom went through something comparable. After years on victoza at the max dose, then ozempic at the max dose, she switched to mounjaro. According to her, it was as if she was on nothing at all until 12.5 mg, and from 12.5 to 15 mg she dropped another 50lbs.
CheesyPotato
Explorer
I'm so sorry to hear about your sister — you've clearly been carrying a heavy load, and putting on weight during grief like that is completely understandable. Like other people said, getting your A1C down is a really big achievement.TeresaHip said:
I spent roughly 4 years on Ozempic, right up until the personal assistance program for Medicare recipients was discontinued. Then there was a 1-month gap before I began tirz. On Ozempic I went from 385 down to 230. During that month off, I climbed back to 240, and I'm now sitting at 250.
Not sure whether this will be useful, but I figured I'd share it anyway. My sister spent 2 yrs on Oz, then made the switch to Tirz since her A1C hadn't improved much. Once she got to 7.5, her A1C started getting better, though the scale stayed put. That frustrated her, but she remained at 7.5 for 3 months (as her doctor instructed), and by month 3 the scale finally began to budge. Jump ahead 4 months, she's now at 12.5 and each day looks a little brighter.
Not especially.CheesyPotato said:
Responses vary from person to person. Moving up in dose won't necessarily speed up weight loss. In fact, it could bring on unwanted side effects, though you're likely aware of that already
Thanks to all of you. I suppose patience has slipped away from me. Losing what I did took 4 years. Still, it served as a tool. The effort came from me. I figured out how much food to consume and made sure to get my protein. My journey has taught me plenty.
I'll wait longer and watch how things go.
I appreciate everyone's condolences. It's been difficult. She was my best friend!
I'll wait longer and watch how things go.
I appreciate everyone's condolences. It's been difficult. She was my best friend!
Great update — it's doing its job. I simply wasn't giving it enough time. Down 2 pounds! I hadn't stepped on the scale in roughly a week or more, since I got discharged. I really ought to know better by now! This isn't my first time going through it. Thank you all for hearing me out and for the suggestions. Until I can tell whether this keeps up, I'm staying at 7.5.
Next step: work up the nerve to buy grey. The savings would be huge!
Next step: work up the nerve to buy grey. The savings would be huge!