ForumDosing & Titration

Will Tesa water weight subside?

7 replies5 peopleJul 11, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

Will water retention from daily Tesa eventually stop or does the dose need to be lowered or stopped?

The original poster gained 8 lb after five weeks on 2 mg Tesa daily plus 2 mg Reta while in a large deficit, with no visible swelling; creatine was started at the same time. Replies note that creatine itself causes retention, that Tesa-related fluid may lessen after the first month or two, and that a smart scale helps separate lean mass from fat. Advice centers on checking blood pressure and possibly reducing the dose or using a 5-on-2-off schedule rather than stopping outright.

What this discussion establishesStill open

How much of the 8 lb is attributable to Tesa versus creatine, and whether the retention will resolve while staying on the current dose

Nothing here is advice.

7 replies · 5 people
ClearKettle18archiveopening postJul 11

Been using 2 mg of Tesa every day for almost five weeks while eating far fewer calories than usual, but my weight on the scale continues to climb. I'm also taking 2 mg of Reta and began 5 mg of creatine daily right when I started the Tesa. That's an 8 pound increase so far. Can't tell how much comes from the Tesa compared to the creatine. The strange thing is there's no obvious puffiness in my feet, hands, or face. It doesn't show up in how I look, yet the numbers on the scale are higher. Wondering if this buildup will eventually level out or whether I have to quit Tesa to make it stop.

SharpCinder28archiveJul 11

How is your blood pressure holding up? Eight pounds of extra fluid isn't great for blood vessels, so I would think about dropping to 1 mg after checking IGF-1, fasting insulin, A1C, or fasting glucose, or pausing altogether. Some users try five days on and two off to limit fluid buildup. The lack of visible swelling is interesting.

ClearKettle18archiveJul 11
↳ replying to @SharpCinder28

Blood work right before starting looked fine. I also updated my first post to mention starting 5 mg creatine daily at the same time as Tesa. Does that change whether 8 lb still seems excessive when both compounds could be contributing?

SharpCinder28archiveJul 11

That makes it less worrying overall. Still, I would keep an eye on blood pressure at least.

BlueSparrow34archiveJul 11

From what I understand Tesa needs roughly four weeks before any effects appear, fluid retention is supposed to ease during the second month, and then further changes show up in the third month. Creatine will definitely add water as well. Most reports on Tesa say to ignore the scale and watch visceral fat areas instead. You could ease off the creatine for a few days and check whether the trend reverses.

QuietFenwick11archiveJul 11
↳ replying to @ClearKettle18 (opening post)

Stopping will make the water go away. Staying on it might also let the water resolve after a couple of months. The most useful step is getting a smart scale so you can separate lean mass from fat mass on weigh-ins.

WarmCompass44archiveJul 11

Eight pounds seems like more than just water. What does your daily activity look like, and how are food and sodium intake? You might want to increase the reta as well.

ClearKettle18archiveJul 11
↳ replying to @WarmCompass44

Diet is solid at 1500 calories or less daily, with a gram of protein per pound of body weight and low carbs and fats. I've also been lifting and getting stronger.

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