Beginning the Zepbound journey

@grammamo keep up the great work!

I’m 73, started on 2.5 mg dosage, now up to 10 mg. All of a sudden I’m have stomach discomfort, drinking one cup of coffee makes my stomach hurt. Also belching constantly. My doctor wants me to increase to 12.5 and then to 15 mg which I will stay on.

I haven’t had many problems up to this point (other than constipation). Not sure what’s going on. Tried Tums, they do not help. Now trying GasX.

Thanks.

@barb73 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I had similar symptoms when I was on semaglutide/Wegovy previously in 2024. Coffee was at times a trigger. I also was doing what my family called "death burps."

I did have to talk to my doctor and a gastrointestinal doctor I happened to be seeing at the time, and I was prescribed some medications that helped with stomach cramping and nausea, which I was really struggling with.

I think most doctors prefer you start with medications for these symptoms which are OTC and more benign, which you are doing. If no luck, I'd encourage you to tell your doctor about what's going on and what you've tried so far, and ask what else might be available.

I did not love, nor did my primary care doctor love, prescribing me one medication to deal with the effects from another. But it was worth it to me at the time, so I did it.

After losing insurance coverage for over a year, due to maximums in my plan at the time, I did regain most of the weight I'd lost. So, I'm now on Wegovy again. This time, I'm only moved up to the next dose when my side effects are under good control. I've been at most doses for 3 months. This is crazy-making slow for weight loss, but it's been a much smoother process side effect-wise.

Did the simethicone (Gas X) help you?

I’m 84 and on Zep for 10 mos and went from 245 to 160 lbs limiting myself to 800 calories per day. Big mistake to do that! Others in my family are taking it slow not counting calories but eating less. I lost muscle mass, hair, my fingernails etc: I loved wearing size 14 but that pleasure was short lived. Consult a nutritionist!!

I’m a 78 year old female just starting Zepbound 2.5 mg. I had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy 11 years ago with moderate weight gain. I’m good at using protein first, drinking water and exercising. But I’m anxious about what to expect the first week or two. What more can I do? What have you experienced?

@marsha2026 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

Here are a couple of Mayo Clinic articles on
tirzepatide (Zepbound) that may be useful for you:

- Tirzepatide (subcutaneous route) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/tirzepatide-subcutaneous-route/description/drg-20534045

- Prescription weight-loss drugs
Study the pros and cons of medicines to treat obesity. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss-drugs/art-20044832

Sounds like you have some good habits already in place. I have taken tirzepatide (Zepbound) previously till I got to the highest dose and my insurance stopped coverage due to a maximum. I honestly don't think much at all happened the week or two I was starting and on the lowest dose. Perhaps others have had different experiences.

If you have to wait awhile to see effects of the tirzepatide (Zepbound), how would you feel about that?

@maysh47 - wondering where you are at today with your weight loss? You mentioned you felt the limiting your calories to 800 per day was a mistake. Did you decide to continue on the tirzepatide (Zepbound), or did you go another route entirely for weight loss?

@lisalucier Thanks so much for your referenced articles. Very informative. I especially like that Zepbound has been correlated to sleep apnea reduction.

Also it’s ok if results appear slowly. I’ve learned patience in my old age. 😉

@lisalucier After a bout with dizziness & other probs r/t nutrition I stopped zep, gained to 180 lbs felt much better & started the Fondeyo, the oral pill. It doesn’t work for me and now I weigh 197 lbs and because I don’t qualify for the Bridge program thru Medicare must pay full price for the zep. So I’m stalled with all the craving & food noise I started with.