Are higher doses always more effective?

[GallopingGladys]

I’ve gone up to 12.5mg recently and I really don’t find the appetite suppression any higher than it used to be. And I have a sneaking suspicion that the suppression was higher a few months ago but can’t remember at what dose.

Have others gone up to higher doses but not found that the suppression increased? Has anyone actually gone back down to a lower dose and found that that increased suppression?

That's an interesting question, and I'm about to test it out.

I've been on 15mg for several months and while I'm still losing weight, I thought I'd go down to 12.5mg and then to 10mg, just to see if there's much difference.

It would be nice if the lower doses worked just as well as the higher ones, as they're a lot cheaper.

Going down to a lower dose absolutely won't increase suppression, because that's not how the drug works. The reason that lower doses worked when they worked is because your body was less accustomed to the drug. If you went down again now you'd find it even less effective.
Try not to stress about the suppression seeming to go down. I've been on it for a year and I've observed that it does go up and down. Many factors can affect how the drug works on the body and some days I can feel really quite hungry (though nowhere near pre mj hunger) and other days I just don't want to eat. It also depends what my food choices are. Low carb and no sugar supports the drug, if I eat too much carbs, drink alcohol or have something sugary then the next day or so I tend to be hungrier.

I've more or less reached goal and I'm planning to titrate down to reach the dose that supports maintenance. I've noticed already that there is a reduction in efficacy just from 15 to 12.5.

I’ve been on 12.5 for 3 months, up to 15 next month. I’ve noticed that it varies, along with side effects. This week I haven’t felt hungry at all and have been feeling sick with upset stomach, whereas some weeks I have to remind myself that I’m not hungry, it’s habit. Though you’d think I should’ve broken the habit after a year.

Oh that's annoying!!

Thanks @BabyCatFace tbh I kinda assumed that, but I just wondered. I take a number of other medications and sometimes the higher doses aren’t the most effective with those, but I imagine mounjaro isn’t one of those.

It’s funny though coz with my other meds, there’s no expectation at all that I will ‘acclimatise’ to them and they’ll become less effective. I’ve been on some for 15 years and they work just as well now as 15 years ago. I wonder why mounjaro isn’t the same in that respect.

Anyway, yes I identify with what you said about it varying in its effectiveness. I’ve never been able to work out any links to anything to explain why. But I imagine you’re right about diet (carbs/sugar etc) having an impact!

Thanks helpful to hear, thanks!

@GallopingGladys I've felt the same, and was certain that I must have had a faulty pen as 12.5 was doing nothing for me.

I know it's not all about suppression but as my diet is plant based, it's hard to eat low carb. I was sure I felt more on 10 and 7.5, so dropped down to 10 on the next pen, but jabbed every 6 days. This is what is working perfectly for me again.

@passport25that is interesting that jabbing every 6 days works best for you!

I sometimes jab every 5 days if it's wearing off.

@TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne@10storeylovesongcould I ask you both - when you went up to 15mg did it feel like a significant difference to 12.5mg?

Not really if I'm honest.

That's why I'd like to try going gradually back down to 10mg.

I could do it anyway, from the 15mg pen, using insulin syringes. I think I'll give it a go, and see what happens.

Hmm that’s a bit disappointing!

Oh lord @10storeylovesongthat doesn’t sound good at all! Sorry you had such an awful time on 15mg!!!

@GallopingGladys you could also count clicks, as 60 is a full dose therefore 40 would be 10mg from a 15 mg pen etc