Forum › Food & Appetite

Titrating down

8 replies5 peopleSep 25, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

How should someone on long-term tirzepatide adjust their dose downward while dealing with low energy during exercise and deciding whether to chase more weight loss?

The original poster has been stable at 12.5 mg for a year after 2.5 years on GLP-1s, is considering a drop to 10 mg or lower for better energy during hockey, and is already testing a lower grey-market dose while planning to stretch prescription supply. Replies note that increased hunger after stepping down is expected, question whether the goal is maintenance or further loss, and suggest listening to the body on energy. Later posts highlight that under-eating relative to activity can cause fatigue and that the current dose may already be functioning as maintenance.

What this discussion establishesWhere people disagree

Whether to prioritize the final 10 lb loss or accept current weight and focus on energy and performance.

Still open

What the long-term dose should be once energy and weight goals are balanced.

Nothing here is advice.

8 replies · 5 people
IronQuill66archiveopening postSep 25

I've stayed on 12.5 mg roughly a year with a valid script. Insurance problems left me using up stored doses and I also obtained some grey product as backup. Weight has held steady beyond half a year and I'm content even though another 10 lb drop would be nice. After two and a half years on GLP-1 meds I'm back near my college weight. Cardio sessions leave me drained. I'm considering moving to 7.5 mg or even 5 mg long term. I started a grey 10 mg shot last Wednesday to stretch my prescription supply. Hunger feels a bit stronger than usual and I'm noticing meal times more. I'll hold at 10 mg for a while, maybe months, and split future prescription doses. Adding a 1 mg reta dose mid-week is another idea I'm weighing.

BrightMeadow15archiveSep 25

Moving from 12.5 mg down to 10 mg explains the extra hunger. Whether you split the prescription or rely on grey stock is a personal call since both are tirzepatide. You may feel safer with the prescription or doubt the grey version's strength. Clarifying your actual target will shape the next steps on dose and any reta addition. Right now the messages show hesitation. It could help to pause and decide if the aim is still that last 10 lb or if current weight is fine. Setting clear checkpoints, like adding reta only if a certain amount isn't lost by a set date, would give direction. These adjustments take weeks to show effects, so having a settled plan matters.

GreyLantern71archiveSep 25

Lowering the dose often leads to weight regain for many women. Is the main reason lower energy or simply wanting to stretch supplies? Keeping the present dose and layering on reta might be preferable since tirzepatide has worked well so far. How are daily calories, protein intake, and sleep holding up?

IronQuill66archiveSep 25
↳ replying to @BrightMeadow15

Right now the prescription route costs less, so the plan is to use that supply. Grey product isn't a problem for me. Energy levels are the main issue. I play hockey in a men's league and haven't been eating enough to fuel the games. For the last few weeks I've added three full meals plus an electrolyte drink on game days, which helps somewhat. Earlier I never got winded but my legs would give out. Protein intake is already high. Calories and overall activity could both improve, which is why those last 10 lb remain difficult.

GreyLantern71archiveSep 25

That lines up. Reducing the dose appears reasonable here. Paying attention to how the body responds is important.

GreyAlder96archiveSep 25

Quick summary: roughly a year on tirzepatide with loss only in the first six months and stability since. Age, height, current weight, and total lost would help. If weight has held for half a year this may already be the maintenance level and lowering it risks regain. Goals still seem mixed. One direction is keeping maintenance while increasing calories for better hockey performance; the other is pushing for the final 10 lb. More details would allow more specific suggestions.

IronQuill66archiveSep 26

I'm still unsure about the exact plan and mainly want to lower the dose. If weight comes back I'll adjust then. Keeping some level of GLP-1 ongoing matters for heart and other benefits. I'm 45, 6 ft, started at 281 lb, fairly muscular, now around 235-238 lb with body fat near 22 %. A target near 225 lb would be nice but current weight is acceptable. Pre-medication blood work had a few borderline values that are now solidly normal. The timeline on zepbound was longer than recalled, nearly two years starting around December 2022. Before that I used liraglutide until late February 2023 and lost about 10 lb on the highest dose, then switched to semaglutide and lost another 20 lb. There was a 6-7 week gap without medication around March 2024 so I went from high

SharpHarbour73archiveSep 26

After starting tirzepatide in May and reaching 9 mg while increasing daily walking, weight came off steadily at 3-5 lb per week. Adding weight training caused a stall. Tracking showed intake was only 1200-1500 calories against a 1950 RMR and two hours of daily training, leading to weakness and poor recovery. Raising calories to 1700-1900 with yogurt, protein powder, and cottage cheese improved energy and performance. The body had responded to under-eating by reducing output and holding onto fat.

IronQuill66archiveSep 26
↳ replying to @SharpHarbour73

That matches what happens to me. Weekdays usually include enough food, sometimes too much, but weekends with a busy schedule lead to under-eating.

Related discussions

Add your experience

If you have tried it, this topic is still open. Sign in to reply — it takes a minute.