Should I switch from Reta to Zepbound?

Keep going with Reta until you reach your goal weight, then consider other options for maintenance if you want. No reason to switch when it's working this well. I began at 1 mg from a starting weight of 230 and after 13 weeks I'm at 3 mg weekly and down 37 pounds. I originally planned to stop eventually but I feel good on it and like the results, so I'll probably just lower the dose for maintenance instead of changing drugs.

On average, 12 mg of Reta over a year produces about 29 percent weight loss. Starting from 290 that would bring someone to roughly 202 pounds and a BMI of 29 from 41. Tirzepatide is a bit less effective on average, so if substantial loss is the goal Reta may be preferable. Individual responses differ a lot, and you won't know your own until you've been on it a year at higher doses. If hunger returns before the week ends, dosing every five or six days can help. Depending on cost, Reta may also be cheaper than brand tirzepatide, though the latter avoids risks of mislabeling or contamination.

My experience may not match yours but it might give someone ideas. I began by using a friend's brand-name Zepbound to test it since insurance wouldn't cover me. Knowing we'd both increase doses, I moved to research versions right away and it felt straightforward. The friend still gets brand Zepbound through insurance at the top dose and now adds some Reta I provide. It's worked out as a good arrangement for both.

I wouldn't switch. Reta works better if you have no heart issues. Zepbound tends to cause more fatigue and won't be as strong, plus you can't adjust the dose yourself. If you want tirzepatide just get that directly. You mentioned getting hungrier toward the end of the week, so splitting the dose should fix that. I've dosed every three days from the start and after eight weeks at 2 mg every three days I had to lower it because appetite returned too strongly.

Adding some tirzepatide to the Reta has helped many people who found it reduced food noise.

If resting heart rate is an issue, consider eloralintide instead of tirzepatide, or combine it with Reta but start very low. Eloralintide tends to lower resting heart rate indirectly. Stage-two cardio or lots of walking has helped me keep my rate the same or slightly lower than before Reta, though being leaner now may also play a role. Eight hours of sleep and fewer sugary or starchy carbs also keep it down. What dose are you currently using?

If you can get Zepbound at your copay amount, try it for a month or two and see how it goes. Keep the Reta in the freezer so it stays good. If the Zepbound doesn't work well you can always go back.

From what I recall, the average initial heart-rate increase was around 6 bpm on Reta and 2 bpm on tirzepatide.

I tried both retatrutide and prescription tirzepatide. After a month on retatrutide I switched back because of higher heart rate, more food noise, and elevated fasting blood glucose. Those issues went away once I returned to tirzepatide.

I'm going the opposite direction from you. I started on tirzepatide and have thought about adding Reta during slowdowns but decided to keep things simple and stay with tirzepatide. It sounds like you're doing well on Reta, so I'd fill the Zepbound prescription and just store it or pass it along until you actually need it. There's value in not changing what is working. I see plenty of people here trying lots of different things or getting impatient. I have some Reta in the freezer that I might add later during maintenance or if I stall on tirzepatide, but for now I'll stick with what got me here.