u/Irreplaceable246

I started Zepbound about a month ago on 2.5 mg (Eli Lilly). I'm paying out of pocket, so it's expensive, but I had almost no side effects. The medication worked great for the first 4 days after each injection, then the appetite suppression wore off during the last few days of the week. By week 4, it wasn't suppressing my appetite much anymore, so my doctor and I decided to increase to 5 mg.

I lost 7.4 lb in my first month (starting weight 182 lb) and have now lost 11.4 lb total. My goal is 145 lb, mainly to improve my health and reverse my prediabetes. I'm still in my 30s with young children.

I took my first 5 mg dose last Saturday, and it hit me hard. I slept almost all day Sunday and felt very sick through Tuesday. I had severe abdominal pain that radiated to my back and side, felt extremely full, and couldn't eat or drink for about 24 hours. On Monday evening I managed about 350 calories (mostly cauliflower rice) and about ½ cup of water. I gradually started eating small amounts, and today I'm finally feeling like myself again.

I couldn't get a timely appointment with my doctor, and my next injection is due in two days. Has anyone successfully split the 5 mg KwikPen into 2.5 mg twice a week (for example, every 4 days) to reduce side effects? Or did your body adjust after the first 5 mg dose? I can't go through that again.

I'm looking for a legitimate, safe compound tirzepatide provider and would really appreciate recommendations from people with firsthand experience.

I just took my 4th injection of 2.5 mg Zepbound (Eli Lilly) yesterday. I started with the manufacturer product because I wanted to make sure I was using the FDA-approved medication, but I've realized this journey is probably going to take longer than I expected, and the cost is becoming difficult to justify. I'm paying $299 out of pocket, and I know it only gets more expensive once I increase my dose.

During my first two weeks, I lost 4.4 lbs, even though I noticed the appetite suppression started wearing off about 3 days before my next injection. I generally eat healthy and love cooking, so I don't think my diet was the main issue.

Then on week 3, I went on vacation. Being on the road and eating differently made me feel sick for the first few days. By day 4, I felt like the appetite suppression had mostly disappeared. I wasn't constantly snacking, but I definitely didn't feel the same effect as before. When I weighed myself before taking my 4th injection, I had gained 2.2 lbs back.

That experience made me think it's probably time to move up to 5 mg, but I'm worried about the cost of staying with Zepbound.

For those of you using compounded tirzepatide:

- Which provider do you use?

- Who do you trust?

- Are there providers you would avoid?

- Is there anything you wish you had known before switching from Zepbound?

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed trying to sort through all the different telehealth companies and pharmacies. Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!