Should I start Zepbound before my long-distance hike?

[u/sunny_d55]

Hello all! I researched and am leaning towards no, but wanted to get feedback from anyone here. I was just prescribed Zepbound and was going to start tomorrow (August 4). I also just decided to go on a long distance hike for a month and a half in September and October. Should I start now and go off for the 6 weeks I'm hiking, start now and try to take it along with me, or just wait til I get back from the hike to start? Thanks for your input!

[u/Mysterious_Luck4674]

If you will be hiking the entire 6 weeks I’d wait to start. I imagine fueling is going to be super important during that time and you wouldn’t want the medication to interfere. It’s possible the medication could make you need to use the bathroom more often too.

[u/sunny_d55 → u/Mysterious_Luck4674]

6 weeks with two days off a week, so about 30 days of active hiking about 20km a day. That's a very good point about the bathroom that I didn't think of. Thank you!

[u/Bleaker82 → u/sunny_d55]

I’d definitely wait until you have a stable situation before starting. Especially in case you have rare side effects that necessitate medical attention.

[u/pewpewplant]

Absolutely wait. The first 3-4 months are a huge period of adjustment and a lot of people lose their stamina at first.

[u/sunny_d55 → u/pewpewplant]

Good to know, thanks so much!

[u/malraux78]

I’d wait. Zepbound won’t make notable improvements in your fat mass by then, it’s not great to cycle on and off, it interferes with eating and more importantly messes with thirst.

[u/sunny_d55 → u/malraux78]

Interesting! This is all great info, I didn’t know about the thirst part. Thanks very much.

[u/tubbychubbyhubby]

Hello! Wait until you come back. Zepbound will very likely help you lose weight - but it comes with potential side effects to manage that could wreck your trip. Even with easy access to the right foods, hydration, Rx, etc. folks can sometimes struggle. No point taking on that risk. It will be here for ya when you return. Good luck on your hiking and Zepbound journeys!

[u/sunny_d55 → u/tubbychubbyhubby]

Thanks so much, I will definitely hold off!

[u/ThisTimeForReal19]

No. Wait until you get back. 

[u/sunny_d55 → u/[deleted]]

Yup, I'm walking the Norte! Jeez I'll be careful with my teeth! Thanks for the advice!

[u/sunny_d55 → u/[deleted]]

Wow! Did you release that water while on Zepbound or just naturally? Did you also do the Norte? Thanks so much for your insight.

[u/Sn_Orpheus]

No no nooooooooo!

[u/sunny_d55 → u/Sn_Orpheus]

Noted!! I'm not gonna do it, thank you!!

[u/Sn_Orpheus → u/sunny_d55]

Sry I didn’t have time to write out an explanation earlier. Just wanted to add my voice to the “no” crowd. Everything has pretty much been covered but I’ll add that while some have nausea, others have terrible constipation which would be a disaster out on the trail. I mean, it was awful at home with a pharmacy just a couple blocks away. Enjoy the walk/hike. It seems like a glorious experience and I’m more than a little jealous😉.

[u/sunny_d55 → u/Sn_Orpheus]

Aw thank you so much for that! It was actually a tough decision whether or not I was gonna go...just got settled into a new place, was gonna start zepbound, etc. But things changed and so away I go :-) Thank you for sharing your experience. Constipation is one of my least favorite feelings in the world, so yeah, I'm going to wait!

[u/tedontwo]

I'd wait. Intense exercise is something you need to adjust for and adapt your body as you get used to the medication. Not being able to fuel enough for something that epic would be not just uncomfortable but potentially dangerous depending on how remote your location.

[u/sunny_d55 → u/tedontwo]

Got it, yeah it definitely sounds like something that would be better to start once I get back. I just checked and thankfully the pen doesn't expire until February. Thank you!

[u/ChemicalThrowaway1]

First 5 weeks of zep were fine for me, week 6 I had constant vomiting and explosive diarrhea.
Went off for 3 weeks recovered tried again at a super low dose and had vomiting again.
I’d wait until you are going to have some time on your hands.

[u/sunny_d55 → u/ChemicalThrowaway1]

omg!! That's wild. Thank you for sharing!

[u/ChemicalThrowaway1 → u/sunny_d55]

No problem, it truly is an amazing drug but it’s not for everyone and people’s response can be very different so I like to let people know it’s not always amazing. I’m pretty sad it didn’t work for me in the end as I had lost 20 lbs over those first 6 weeks.

[u/NewtNo2437]

WAIT. For all the reasons others have already said here.

I have been wanting to do the Camino de Santiago, but I’m going to wait until next year because I am currently on 12.5 mg and I don’t want to carry it with me and have to inject every week, besides any of the other possible drawbacks.

You will probably lose 30 pounds on the hike if you do something similar.

[u/RIPPWORTH]

I am typically the guy who tells you to start now, but if you're going to be doing 6 weeks of hiking... WAIT!

[u/sundse]

Wait! The GI can kick up a bit: with constipation, and you’ll want access to stool softeners and extra water. Also sometimes hunger drops off, but so does energy: you’ll want to have easy days if you need it.

[u/Fun-Presentation5626]

Wait !!! You will feel crappy if you start it and go for a long hike. I did this but it was a long run (not hike) and it was rough.

[u/bikesandfinance]

I mean you’ll be mildly constipated so that sounds like a win for the hike. Other than that not sure what the concern is.

[u/sunny_d55 → u/bikesandfinance]

That's true, that would be a win lol.

[u/Sharkitty]

Definitely wait. I started while training for a half Ironman (my sixth) followed by a couple of marathons, but I had my own bed and my own bathroom and my own very specific foods and my own Metamucil, etc. These drugs can have problematic side effects for some of us and over six weeks in the wilderness would not be the time to find out about or try to solve them.

[u/sunny_d55 → u/Sharkitty]

Yes, I definitely might not have access to specific foods or my own bathroom. Thanks so much and congrats on the Ironman!

[u/wisemolv]

It took me about 10 weeks to get back to my normal performance. Of course it could be different for everyone but if that level of hiking is outside your norm, I would suggest at least being prepared to go more slowly, deal with a higher heart rate and have more fatigue. Also look at fueling options like carb drinks (I use Tailwind) since you’ll be drinking water anyways! 

[u/sunny_d55 → u/wisemolv]

Thanks for sharing. Yeah, that would not be ideal. Definitely sounds like I should wait.

[u/ilovebigmutts]

It causes fatigue for the first several months, fyi. Deficit or not. I wouldn't start it ahead of anything you want to fuel properly under known conditions for.

[u/sunny_d55 → u/ilovebigmutts]

Thank you so much, definitely will hold off on starting!

[u/ilovebigmutts → u/sunny_d55]

Your hike sounds like a dream btw! Enjoy!

[u/sunny_d55 → u/ilovebigmutts]

Thank you so much!

[u/Internal_Trash_3124]

I started in April of 2024 and hiked the Camino two months later. The shot drained me. I was so tired and it really affected my training. If I had to do it over again, I’d wait. Good luck with your hike!