i've worked up to 3 mg weekly after starting at 1 mg six weeks back. every time i raised the dose my thirst jumped quite a bit. anyone else noticing this? it's way more than i had before this glp.
Anyone else thirsty on reta?
Summary
does retatrutide or similar glp drugs cause increased thirst or dehydration for users
reports are mixed with some users noticing stronger thirst after each dose increase on reta while others feel less need to drink or even the opposite effect. several people describe washing out electrolytes like sodium when they drink more water leading to low blood levels headaches or dizziness and they manage it with electrolyte drinks or added salt. a few note the effect is stronger on reta than on tirz and one person points to glucagon activity as a possible reason for fluid loss.
What this discussion establishes- thirst can rise with dose increases on reta for some users but others report reduced fluid intake
- drinking large amounts of plain water sometimes lowers sodium and chloride levels
- electrolyte supplements or drinks like gatorade help relieve symptoms when water alone does not
- the change often appears after starting or raising the dose and can come and go
- one user links it to glucagon effects increasing urine output and metabolic rate
some participants state glp drugs generally reduce thirst and have seen papers on using them for excessive drinking while others report the opposite experience of feeling much thirstier
Still openwhy certain users see increased thirst while others see the reverse and whether blood sugar or other factors explain the difference
Nothing here is advice.
25 replies · 20 people
↳ replying to @SharpHarbour71 (opening post)
i didn't feel especially thirsty but i once titrated too fast and didn't drink enough so i got dehydrated according to my scale and how i felt.
just started week three and these last few days i felt really dehydrated even though water didn't help. picked up some gatorade at the store this morning and now i feel a lot better.
↳ replying to @SharpHarbour71 (opening post)
no i feel the opposite and have to remind myself to drink.
glp meds usually cut thirst and i've read papers on that. i used to drink around eight liters a day but it dropped by half on semaglutide and stayed that way on tirzepatide plus reta. might be worth checking blood sugar.
↳ replying to @CopperSignal27
this only started after i began the reta.
i have to stay on top of electrolytes or i get dehydration signs like headaches dizziness restless legs or darker urine.
↳ replying to @KeenWillow56
just came here to say the same. took my first dose and felt oddly thirsty the whole day.
same here after two weeks thirsty even though i'm drinking plenty.
i've doubled my water intake since starting reta but that washed out electrolytes and my sodium went dangerously low. now i limit water which leaves a very dry mouth yet it seems to help. the issue got worse at higher doses and eating less didn't fix it so lowering the dose might be an option.
yes it comes and goes. had it when i first started then later had to remind myself to drink. missed a day waiting on a new shipment and took a lower amount so now i'm thirsty again all day.
I rejected that idea and now it's only created issues for me.
i notice it. i always struggled to drink enough before but now i take in more water without having to force myself so yes i feel thirstier on reta than before.
↳ replying to @WryMarble87
that's odd because you'd need to drink a huge amount to drop sodium that low. i used to drink eight liters a day with no sodium issues and glps cut it to three or four liters. papers suggest glps can treat excessive fluid intake. you could add salt to food or use tablets instead of cutting water and get levels checked now and then. artificial saliva products exist for dry mouth but it still seems strange that so many report drinking more when the drugs are studied for the opposite problem.
i'm way thirstier on tirz than before and won't leave home without my bottle or i start to worry. i fill a three liter bottle with two packets of sugar free electrolyte powder and finish one every day or so. never used to drink water like that.
i was drinking tons of water and my last two blood tests showed low sodium and chlorides so i was flushing it out. now i have a sugar free sports drink or half a packet of electrolyte powder daily. the powder gives five hundred milligrams of sodium so that's why only half.
↳ replying to @SharpHarbour71 (opening post)
didn't happen with tirz but on reta the thirst has been unexpectedly strong and regular.
↳ replying to @CopperSignal27
eight liters a day does sound like a lot maybe tied to diabetes. normal needs are two to three liters. i went from two liters before the glp to just over four and my sodium co2 and other values dropped low. extra salt helped only a little. the drug changes metabolic paths so i expect levels won't normalize until i'm off it and back to usual habits. glad yours stayed fine.
↳ replying to @PlainAlder11
would like to hear if that approach improves your numbers. i've been low for about six months and can't seem to raise them. planning another check soon?
↳ replying to @SharpHarbour71 (opening post)
drink electrolytes because water alone sometimes isn't enough with reta. try coconut water or similar drinks. flavoured electrolyte powders to mix in work too.
the thirst often surprises people after dose increases and it's tied to specific effects. glucagon activity raises liver glucose output metabolic rate and fat breakdown while also causing more urine output so fluid loss increases with dose. food intake also drops so less hydration comes from meals like fruits or soups.
↳ replying to @WryMarble87
i'll update after the next test in a couple months. yearly check in february was low doctor ordered another end of april still low. plan is to use this drink and cut back on water instead of salt tablets.
↳ replying to @PlainAlder11
i also washed out sodium on recent labs from drinking so much on tirz. now i add sodium and chew xylitol gum to help with the dry mouth that glps give me too.
↳ replying to @BrightQuill67
i have a blood test this month to check the sodium again.
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