Does dosage limit side effects?

[Alexandra84]

I've only just started, having taken my first dose last week.
I'm extremely worried about side effects, (hair is so thin anyway). If I stuck to a. 2.5 dose, would the side effects be limited? I feel like I have greater control over food this week, & would rather limit side effects if this was an option.
Thanks for any feedback.

Side effects can be quite random, sometimes connected to things you might have eaten, and also can be associated with when you move up a dose. If 2.5mg continues to work well for you then you can stay on it if you like, until it’s no longer effective and then you can decide move up.

I'm on 15mg with no side effects. I've had GI related side effects twice once during 5mg and once 7.5mg and it was all food related pizza and processed meat. I had more side effects on 2.5mg dizziness and headaches starting off due to low blood sugar. Also hair loss is related to not eating enough calories or eating below your bmr. I've had it throughout and I eat less than 1100 most days.

I probably had more side effects on 2.5 and 5mg - hardly anything now on 10mg. Not that I had many at all. It's why you take a low dose to start with as your body gets used to it.

This. I've adjusted my eating habits accordingly.

I also take collagen. If anything my hair looks bigger because my body is smaller!

Hair loss is due to rapid weight loss - it’s not caused by WLI specifically. I’ve done fast800 before - lost weight very quickly and my hair fell out in chunks! I’ve been on MJ for 9 wks now - lost 19 lbs which is good but not super fast and no hair loss so far. I stayed on 2.5mg for 8 wks as it was working then went up to 3.75mg last week.

There is no need to go up in dose if you feel that 2,5 is working well for you.

I’d say ‘enjoy the journey’ and try not to spend too much time worrying about something that might not even happen. I’m on W3 but I put it off for ages having read horror stories but actually it’s been totally fine. I’ve been a bit constipated and one time in my first week after wolfing down a sandwich, felt like a brick had landed in my stomach but otherwise it’s been fine.

I put a scoop of collagen powder in my 2l water cup and drink that every day. In 3 weeks I’ve noticed a difference in the thickness of my hair and my nails aren’t bendy any more.

Very few people have extreme side effects. From what I can see, some have a few minor inconveniences and it’s all manageable with over the counter stuff. Enjoy the ride. :)

The hair loss is caused by disruption to the hair's growth cycle from rapid weight loss for any reason, not uniquely WLI. As a general rule of thumb you should stay on the lowest dose that is effective for you, and because some people experience good suppression on 2.5mg they are able to remain on very low doses. It's impossible to predict how your body will respond but most people do develop a tolerance to the drug and find that lower doses become less effective over time.

Short answer, no. You have no idea how 2.5mg will work in the longer term so there's no way you can predict what will work for you. You just need to be careful not to lose weight too fast.

I was so shocked when I lost a lot of weight that my hair was MUCH longer and thicker on my head, way too much growth for the timescale. I then realised how much fat was on my head, neck, shoulders etc.. For some reason I didn’t think the top of the head got fat 😂

It's not rapid loss, I only lose 1lb a week average and last few weeks it's been 1lb over 2 weeks, I'm 8 months on it and lost lots of hair. It's low calories below bmr, my deficit is 1200 and bmr is 1350, I usually manage 850-1100 cals a day.
Of course you will lose hair on a fast800 as its a very low calorie diet. Your body prioritises where it uses its energy and hair is a non essential process so it loses out.

I’ve stayed on 2.5mg. Lost slowly compared to some. Just over 3 stone in 9 months. Have never dropped below 1200 calories. I have still had considerable hair loss. My hair was on the thin side of normal before and now looks quite straggly. It started at 4 months in and is just slowing down, but has not stopped, now. It’s been the worst thing for me but still worth the trade off for being a healthy bmi. Just hoping it grows back.

No other side effects, other than mild nausea at the very beginning.

Don't overthink it is my advice

Lots of people on higher doses (including me) have minimal side effects, some people find it affects them very strongly and get side effects on 2.5.

Just give it a go and see.