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For those who suffered with fatigue, how long did it take to improve?

9 replies9 peopleMay 25, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

how long does fatigue from starting this medication last and what helps it

Early fatigue on the starting dose often hits hardest two to three days after each weekly injection and feels like illness or covid. Many users report gradual improvement after several weeks once they reach higher doses or stay consistent, with hydration and added protein providing noticeable relief for some. Others find the tiredness persists and choose to lower the dose or accept it as ongoing. Individual response varies widely and the effect is attributed to the medication itself rather than calorie intake alone.

What this discussion establishesWhere people disagree

Some expect fatigue to resolve with time or dose increases while others report it remains steady or requires dose reduction to manage

Still open

exact timeline for full resolution across users

Nothing here is advice.

9 replies · 9 people
CopperAlder72archiveopening postMay 25

Started the medication at 2.5 mg three weeks ago and the tiredness is overwhelming. It hits strongly on days two and three after each weekly shot and feels a lot like having covid. Expecting this to get better rather than dealing with two bad days every week. Taking electrolytes, magnesium and melatonin while in a 500 calorie deficit, but prior dieting at the same level never caused this kind of exhaustion.

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NorthWillow72archiveMay 26

Raising protein intake seemed to ease the tiredness for me. It was quite strong between 7.5 and 12.5. You are still below therapeutic levels so adjustment is likely by the eighth or ninth week.

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CopperLedger68archiveJun 9

On the medication since late March. Most people move past the fatigue in the next few weeks but staying hydrated made a big difference for me. Using more electrolyte drink mixes after starting has been very helpful. Something with a bit of natural sugar can also help.

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SharpTimber40archiveJun 10

The fatigue disappeared once I began increasing the dose.

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RustAnchor27archiveJun 10

Just entering week six at 4 mg and still dealing with tiredness plus some nausea now. Hydration is important as these symptoms ease a bit when fluid intake improves, though I have been forgetting to drink lately.

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CopperSignal27archiveJun 10

Check how hungry you feel. If appetite is low and the calorie deficit is easy to maintain, lowering the dose even below the usual starting amount could help, then increase very slowly. Early fatigue sounds more like the medication than diet. It likely comes from the brain area tied to nausea and general malaise via the relevant receptors. Response varies a lot between people. Similar effects from the other medication felt more like mild illness than pure tiredness and did not fully settle until switching.

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WarmMarble80archiveJun 10

Hydration made a bigger difference than I can describe. Odd symptoms that do not add up can sometimes trace back to dehydration. Went from around sixty ounces daily to one hundred this week and noticed a clear improvement, though some swelling appeared from the extra water. Worth trying more fluids.

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CopperAlder72archiveJun 10
↳ replying to @CopperSignal27

Still feeling hunger but decided to drop to 1.25 mg anyway because the tiredness was bad enough to keep me in bed for two full days. It always arrived exactly two days after the shot and eased as the medication level dropped. This has happened every week for four weeks now. Same calories and water each day so it is clearly the medication rather than the diet. Planning to rely on regular calorie tracking with a very small amount of the medication since work is being impacted.

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NorthAnchor76archiveJun 10
↳ replying to @CopperAlder72 (opening post)

Same experience here. Started at 2.5 mg and now at 5 mg. The first four days after the shot I feel the need to nap many times a day. Accepting it as part of using the medication for type 2 diabetes since it helps with blood sugar. Rest when possible, add electrolytes to water and aim for extra protein, yet the tiredness continues.

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BrightMeadow15archiveJun 15
↳ replying to @CopperLedger68

Electrolyte drink mixes helped a lot. Before using them a Friday shot meant sleeping most of Saturday. After starting the mix the day before, the next two days stayed more manageable even with a late Friday shot. Also watch vitamin D levels since low levels can cause sudden strong fatigue.

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For those who suffered with fatigue, how long did it take to improve? · ZyraTrack Community