My doctor wants to keep me on 0.5 but I want to go up — January 2024

Curious where everyone stands on this. I have seen strong opinions both ways in other threads and want to get a proper read on the community consensus.

For context: my doctor wants to keep me is something I've been going back and forth on. Some members seem to swear by one approach, others recommend the opposite.

Drop your experience below — even if it is just a quick "this worked" or "this did not work" that helps. Detailed responses obviously welcome too.

Let's get some data points going 📊

Good question. For My doctor wants to keep me on 0.5, here is what the evidence says:

• The clinical trial data (SELECT program) supports this approach
• Real-world results from this community generally confirm the trial findings
• Individual variation is real — give it at least 8 weeks before judging

Happy to go deeper on any of these points if helpful.

Dr.AddMedPHL said:

5, here is what the evidence says:The clinical trial data (SELECT program) supports this approachRea

Completely agree with Dr.AddMedPHL. I would add that My doctor wants to keep me on also has implications for body composition that sometimes get overlooked in these discussions.

In my case, following a similar approach led to fewer side effects compared to what I was doing before.

Agreed. My doctor said the same thing about My doctor wants to.

As a healthcare provider, I want to add some clinical context to this discussion on My doctor wants to keep me on 0.5 but I.

Building on what amy_econ_NJ said — the evidence base here is well-established. The key publications to reference are from the SUSTAIN program[1].

Key clinical points:

1. Efficacy is dose-dependent and typically requires 4-5 weeks to reach steady state
2. Side effect profile is predictable and usually manageable with standard protocols
3. Monitoring should include baseline labs and follow-up at 3-month intervals
4. Patient education significantly improves outcomes and adherence

Standard disclaimer: this is educational, not individualized medical advice.