I'm starting today – what should I do to prepare?
We see a lot of posts from people who are about to start taking weight loss medication, and are wondering what "you wish you knew when you started." First off, take a deep breath. You got this. And here are a few tips to help you out as you begin your journey.
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Worried about the needle? It's normal to be freaked out by the idea of injecting yourself, but I swear it's easy, painless, and you'll quickly get used to it. Follow the instructions from your provider, and watch a video about how to self-administer a subcutaneous injection. Here's a good one from the VA that also has some good pointers (no pun intended) like letting the vial to come up to room temperature before injecting:
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Drink lots of water. These medications can be dehydrating, water is your friend...it will help the weight come off and help stave off fatigue. Google for guidelines, but I have a big 40oz hydroflask and I try to have 2-3 of those a day. It's also recommended to replenish your electrolytes; I personally have one of these LMNT packets a day in my water bottle.
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Make sure you are getting enough protein. Again, like water, search online for guidelines for your own height and weight/target weight. This is more of an ongoing thing than a "just starting" thing, but not getting enough protein (and calories in general) can get in the way of progress and mean you lose more lean body mass than you’d like. I supplement with 12oz of almond milk mixed with a scoop of this protein powder most days.
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Avoid big, heavy meals the day before and the day of injecting. You'll get a feel for what your body can handle once you get into the swing of things, but to start, best to lean on lighter meals.
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You might not feel anything on the starter 2.5mg dose, and that’s okay. It’s really just meant to get your body acclimated to the drug. You’ll read lots of accounts of people feeling the food noise disappear immediately and having very dramatic effects, but this is not as common as the subreddits would make it seem.
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Be prepared for potential mild side effects (though many people have none!):
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Nausea: Have some ginger tea or ginger chews/candy -- I really like these organic ginger Tummydrops. I also like this chewable Emetrol, it tastes good and works for when you might need a little more than a tummydrop. Personally, I've never felt more than a tiny bit queasy, nothing too bad.
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Tiredness: Plan to take it easy on your first injection day. This is the biggest side effect I face, and it hits me pretty much every week the day or two after injection. As mentioned above, drinking lots of water and replenishing electrolytes can help. If anyone has any other suggestions, let me know and I can share them!
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Constipation: Things can, um, slow down a bit down there. Make sure you have Miralax or another gentle laxative available. People swear by MagO7 -- a magnesium supplement that has a laxative effect, but I haven't tried it, as I haven't experienced this, thankfully.
And remember, most people have very mild side effects, or none at all, so don't sweat it too much.
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If you have questions, come find us on Reddit! You'll find a super helpful community on Reddit. I mostly frequent r/tirzepatidecompound, but there's a bunch to check out, depending on your particular stripe. Before posting, though, try searching -- a lot of questions come up again and again (hence this FAQ!,) and a lot of the answers are all already there; you just need to find them. If you are still confused or have something new to ask or say, please do post! You’ll find most people are helpful and happy to engage.
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You're going to do great. Congrats on taking this step to improve your health and your life!
Full Disclosure -- Some of these product links use affiliate links which give me a small commission for any purchases you make. (Your cost isn't affected.) I do personally use these products regularly (except the MagO7, which is still sitting unopened in my cabinet) and recommend them, regardless of any commission!