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A Beginner’s Guide to Retatrutide: What You Need to Know About Usage, Benefits, and Side Effects

ZenithHealth

AU Bro
EVO V.I.P.
Hey Evo crew,

Due to the request of some members on the forum, I have decided to make a follow on from my previous thread where I talked about Semaglutide which can be found here.

I've been using Retatrutide for about three months now after having been on Semaglutide for quite a while, and I wanted to share some thoughts. In my experience, it’s been noticeably easier to lose weight on Retatrutide, even though I’ve been doing less cardio and putting in less effort overall. What really stood out to me is that I’ve had fewer side effects, especially around appetite suppression and digestion. This isn't to say Sema doesn’t work. It does. But Retatrutide just feels like a step up in a lot of ways. Figured it was worth putting together a post for anyone curious or considering making the switch.




What is Retatrutide?

Retatrutide is a relatively new investigational medication developed by Eli Lilly. It’s being studied for weight management and type 2 diabetes, and what makes it unique is that it acts on three receptors: GLP-1, GIP, and Glucagon.
  • GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1): Helps reduce appetite, slow gastric emptying, and improve insulin secretion.
  • GIP (Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide): Enhances insulin release and works with GLP-1 for better glucose control.
  • Glucagon receptor: Increases energy expenditure and supports fat metabolism.
This “triple agonist” approach means Retatrutide could potentially offer more effective weight loss than Semaglutide or Tirzepatide, which only target one or two of these pathways.




Clinical Results

In phase 2 trials, people using Retatrutide lost up to 24.2% of their body weight over 48 weeks. That’s more than what was seen in Semaglutide or even Tirzepatide trials. Improvements were also seen in blood sugar, insulin resistance, and overall metabolic markers.

From personal experience, it lines up. Hunger is minimal, energy is stable, and I’m dropping weight without needing to rely on cardio the way I used to.




What You Need to Get Started

To begin using Retatrutide, you’ll need four things:
  1. A vial of Retatrutide
  2. Bacteriostatic water to reconstitute the peptide
  3. Insulin syringes (1ml with 100 units marked is ideal)
  4. Alcohol prep pads for sanitizing the injection site



How to Reconstitute Retatrutide

If you’ve purchased a 5mg vial, the total volume including the precipitate is around 4ml. The powder itself takes up about 0.5ml of space.

To fully dissolve the peptide, add 3.5ml of bacteriostatic water to the vial. Inject it slowly down the side of the vial to avoid bubbling. You might see some pressure build up inside. If needed, you can use a needle without a plunger inserted to vent the air and avoid leakage.

Let the vial sit for a few minutes and gently swirl (don’t shake) until fully dissolved.




Dosage and Administration


A solid starting point for Retatrutide is around 2mg per week. I prefer daily injections for a smoother and more even effect throughout the week.

Here’s how to break it down:
  • 2mg divided by 7 days = ~0.285mg per day
Assuming you've reconstituted your 5mg vial with 3.5ml of bacteriostatic water (bringing the total volume upto 4ml), the concentration is:
  • 1.25mg per ml
  • That means 0.125mg per 0.1ml
To get about 0.285mg per day, you’ll want to inject approximately 0.23ml daily. That’s just over 2 units on an insulin syringe if you’re using U100 markings.

Inject subcutaneously into the lower stomach (below the belly button is ideal) and rotate sites regularly to prevent irritation.



Expected Benefits

Most people notice:
  • A sharp reduction in appetite
  • Fewer cravings, even for trigger foods
  • Faster weight loss with less reliance on exercise
  • Improved energy and more stable blood sugar
Personally, I’ve been able to stay in a calorie deficit without tracking macros religiously or forcing myself to do tons of cardio. It has made cutting feel a lot more manageable.




Side Effects to Watch For

As with any GLP-based compound, there are some side effects that can pop up, especially in the first few weeks. These include:
  • Nausea or mild GI upset (usually temporary and dose-dependent)
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Slight increase in resting heart rate
  • Injection site sensitivity
In my case, I had some mild nausea in the first few days, but nothing like what I experienced on Semaglutide. If anything, the side effects have been milder and easier to manage overall (but due to my experience of using GLP-1s for many years my tolerance is very high).




Will You Need to Increase the Dose Over Time?


Probably, yes. Your body may build some tolerance as you go. Like with Semaglutide, listen to how your body feels. If hunger starts creeping back in and weight loss stalls, consider increasing the dose slowly, about 10 percent every 3-4 days and monitor how you respond.

For me, I’ve found a consistent groove with daily dosing and small titrations upward when needed. It’s a bit more hands-on than weekly injections, but you gain more control and flexibility.




Final Thoughts

Retatrutide is still in clinical trials, but based on current data and personal use, it’s showing serious promise. If you’ve already used Semaglutide or Tirzepatide and are looking for something stronger or more tolerable, it’s definitely worth exploring. Just start low, increase slowly, and see how your body responds.

If you have any questions or want to share your own experience with Retatrutide, feel free to chime in. Always keen to hear what’s working (or not) for others.

Stay safe and smart.

Resources and shoutouts​

I want to give a special thanks out to my loggers that have helped me greatly, feel free to take a look below and follow along on their journey.
For more information or if you want to know how to contact me feel free to go to this thread here: https://www.evolutionary.org/forums/threads/zenithhealth-20mg-retatrutide-now-in-stock.104560/

And a very special thanks to @Eddie Haskell who has helped me immensely throughout my time here.
 
nice write up. The studies don’t lie on this one. It’s the best of the 3
Only part I disagree with you on is injection frequency

It has a long half life. It would be like taking test cyp daily while on for a year. You can but why would you want to pin daily and waste needles ? It’s designed for once a week and if a person gets to a maintenance phase you can even do twice a month
 
nice write up. The studies don’t lie on this one. It’s the best of the 3
Only part I disagree with you on is injection frequency

It has a long half life. It would be like taking test cyp daily while on for a year. You can but why would you want to pin daily and waste needles ? It’s designed for once a week and if a person gets to a maintenance phase you can even do twice a month
Retatrutide is absolutely the best of the three no doubt.

As for injection frequency, you're right that the half-life supports weekly dosing, and for many people, that’s perfectly adequate. But my rationale for daily injections isn’t about necessity, it’s about precision and control.

Even with a long half-life, daily dosing can help maintain more stable plasma levels, which might reduce peaks and troughs that could influence side effects or appetite fluctuations. Think of it less like “needing” daily injections and more like microdosing to smooth things out, similar to how some prefer daily testosterone for stability, even when long esters don’t demand it.

Also, with a daily approach, it’s easier to dial in or adjust based on how your body is responding. If someone is experiencing nausea, appetite suppression, or sleep issues, smaller daily doses give a bit more flexibility and responsiveness than having to wait a week to adjust.

Needle use is a fair point, but for those tracking tight outcomes or wanting tighter control (especially during the initial titration phase), daily pinning can be a worthwhile tradeoff.

Definitely not the only way to do it, but for some, it can offer a smoother ride.
 
even with daily injections because of the half life it will still take weeks to reach peak. micro dosing does not speed this up from happening. front loading will, but not micro dosing. i know a lot of australian guys love to micro dose though, its a big aussie thing. and at the end of the day if you like to do it then do it. the drug/hormone is gonna be in your body the same way.
in none of the studies did the drug companies have anyone micro dose retatrutide. even the big mcgill university study thad 12K some participants. every one of them took it once a week. its the same debate i have with people over sustanon. the drug companies designed it to be taken every 2-3 weeks, not EOD. yet a lot of bodybuilders take it 3-5x a week

but i'm not trying to nitpick your layout. it is overall an A+ writeup. keep them coming!
 
also the big one about side effects is spot on. for me it was heartburn but after week 3 it went away. reading the studies the huge thing too i would add to this is there were 0 deaths with this drug. which is amazing considering how much fat/weight people lost. if you took 12K people and got them to lose 24% of their body weight you would have strokes with someone who has over training or taking too much stims. this didn't happen here.
unlike clen or albuterol no worry about elevated HR or enlarged heart.

and finally no hypoglycemic symptoms is amazing. again 0 out of 12K had it. how is this even possible? its because the way it works in the body. that is the #1 complaint of people is they go hypo crashing calories. this one doesn't give you that. and they were giving this to people from teens to 75 year olds. i wouldn't even give an over the counter fat burner to a 75 year old and they were giving this to them. that is impressive and shows how safe it is.

also as i mentioned in the podcast if you pull up Novo's stock (semaglutide) vs. reta/tirz Ely Lilly stock you will see one is dropped 60% and the other is up 700%. that tells me all you need to know. the market knows that semaglutide is the past and reta is the future
 
even with daily injections because of the half life it will still take weeks to reach peak. micro dosing does not speed this up from happening. front loading will, but not micro dosing. i know a lot of australian guys love to micro dose though, its a big aussie thing. and at the end of the day if you like to do it then do it. the drug/hormone is gonna be in your body the same way.
in none of the studies did the drug companies have anyone micro dose retatrutide. even the big mcgill university study thad 12K some participants. every one of them took it once a week. its the same debate i have with people over sustanon. the drug companies designed it to be taken every 2-3 weeks, not EOD. yet a lot of bodybuilders take it 3-5x a week

but i'm not trying to nitpick your layout. it is overall an A+ writeup. keep them coming!
I really appreciate the discourse, and yeah I totally agree thats it might not be necessary for the average person, I think it comes down to personal preference and at the end of the day it doesnt hurt to microdose.
 
and also one thing i would have liked you to add or research is the rebound when you come off. it might be a drug you will need to stay on atleast a maintenance dose like you would trt. the issues coming off are the 1 drawback of this drug aside cost. in the studies and in anectodal from bodybuilders is you will get a ridiculous spike in appetite and gain back a lot of weight you just lost. those given placebo gained back a lot while people who stayed in longer kept losing
 
also the big one about side effects is spot on. for me it was heartburn but after week 3 it went away. reading the studies the huge thing too i would add to this is there were 0 deaths with this drug. which is amazing considering how much fat/weight people lost. if you took 12K people and got them to lose 24% of their body weight you would have strokes with someone who has over training or taking too much stims. this didn't happen here.
unlike clen or albuterol no worry about elevated HR or enlarged heart.

and finally no hypoglycemic symptoms is amazing. again 0 out of 12K had it. how is this even possible? its because the way it works in the body. that is the #1 complaint of people is they go hypo crashing calories. this one doesn't give you that.

also as i mentioned in the podcast if you pull up Novo's stock (semaglutide) vs. reta/tirz Ely Lilly stock you will see one is dropped 60% and the other is up 700%. that tells me all you need to know. the market knows that semaglutide is the past and reta is the future
Exactly right, I was loving Semaglutide which is why I was on it for so long, but people kept mentioning Retatrutide, so I thought why not give it a go? And I'm really glad I did, its just insane how well it works
 
and also one thing i would have liked you to add or research is the rebound when you come off. it might be a drug you will need to stay on atleast a maintenance dose like you would trt. the issues coming off are the 1 drawback of this drug aside cost
Ah thats interesting, I plan to stay on it for the long term, have you had any experience coming off Reta? I guess it makes sense that your metabolism will slow back down and therefore you'll be at risk for weight gain
 
Ah thats interesting, I plan to stay on it for the long term, have you had any experience coming off Reta? I guess it makes sense that your metabolism will slow back down and therefore you'll be at risk for weight gain
no i haven't had expereince yet coming off . i plan on dosing maybe 1mg every 2 weeks as a maintenance dose going forward. or i might even do once a month injections i'm not sure yet

but i have had experience coming off prolong fasting. and the effects are the same. the effects reta has in your body is just like fasting when it comes to glucagon release, so just like fasting for a long period when you come off you will get a huge spike in ghrelin and a drop in glucagon as your body goes into feast mode. your body will want to store fat quickly to prepare for the next famine. your appetite will be insane. so of course you will gain a lot of weight back. the studies show the same thing in those who were given placebo after 6 months vs. those who stayed on the drug for 6 more months. one gained a lot of weight back and the other kept losing.
 
no i haven't had expereince yet coming off . i plan on dosing maybe 1mg every 2 weeks as a maintenance dose going forward. or i might even do once a month injections i'm not sure yet

but i have had experience coming off prolong fasting. and the effects are the same. the effects reta has in your body is just like fasting when it comes to glucagon release, so just like fasting for a long period when you come off you will get a huge spike in ghrelin and a drop in glucagon as your body goes into feast mode. your body will want to store fat quickly to prepare for the next famine. your appetite will be insane. so of course you will gain a lot of weight back. the studies show the same thing in those who were given placebo after 6 months vs. those who stayed on the drug for 6 more months. one gained a lot of weight back and the other kept losing.
Very interesting study, I'll need to look more into it, to be fair in these trials alot of these people go on Retatrutide because they suffer with weight issues, so I am of the school of thought that their discipline wouldn't be comparable to members on this forum such as yourself, Im not saying it wont be a concern but I think you need to look at the people studied as well, but you bring up very good points.
 
The studies don’t lie on this one. It’s the best of the 3
Best of everything except for inflammation it seems, reading lots of anecdotal reports from the auto immune community which pretty much align, Tirz is far superior at reducing inflammation. Seeing repeated stacks of high dose Tirz with low dose Reta as fat loss on tirz eventually stops. Fat loss probably stops because people refuse to change bad habits.
 
Best of everything except for inflammation it seems, reading lots of anecdotal reports from the auto immune community which pretty much align, Tirz is far superior at reducing inflammation. Seeing repeated stacks of high dose Tirz with low dose Reta as fat loss on tirz eventually stops. Fat loss probably stops because people refuse to change bad habits.
Thats actually very interesting, inflammation where and how?
 
Thats actually very interesting, inflammation where and how?
I'm only apart of AS groups so full spine, si joints , elbows , Hips mainly. One problem is Tirz is prescribed and Reta is black market so is it a quality issue?
With AS the body is attacking itself, so next question is the Tirz calming the immune system? or is it actively reducing inflammation?
Lots of questions really, just all a guess at this stage
 
I'm only apart of AS groups so full spine, si joints , elbows , Hips mainly. One problem is Tirz is prescribed and Reta is black market so is it a quality issue?
With AS the body is attacking itself, so next question is the Tirz calming the immune system? or is it actively reducing inflammation?
Lots of questions really, just all a guess at this stage
Yeah new drugs need to pass quite rigorous testing amongst control groups before they are allowed to be distributed, this can often lead to alot of lag as these studies can take years or even decades depending on the type of drug.

But I honestly have no idea about the impacts on inflammation, definitely above my pay grade 😄, but ill keep my eye on the studies that come out!
 
Best of everything except for inflammation it seems, reading lots of anecdotal reports from the auto immune community which pretty much align, Tirz is far superior at reducing inflammation. Seeing repeated stacks of high dose Tirz with low dose Reta as fat loss on tirz eventually stops. Fat loss probably stops because people refuse to change bad habits.
targeting glucagon receptors would make a difference with inflammation. higher glucagon can cause a rise in inflammation. this might be the difference since reta's 3rd benefit is targeting glucagon receptors.

but in studies did you see anything mentioned about inflammation? i read through many of them and didn't see any big deal. i think in the end if you are losing weight/fat it will end up benefiting inflammation. one of the things i notice on reta is i snore less and a lot of people have been helped by sleep apnea on it
 
but in studies did you see anything mentioned about inflammation?
Not that I've remembered seeing. I was actually surprised seeing it prescribed off label by rheumatologists.
 
Not that I've remembered seeing. I was actually surprised seeing it prescribed off label by rheumatologists.
the whole way these work by slowly secreting insulin and tagging glucagon is what most fascinates me. the drug does the work for you. its like you are fasting while also eating.

i've also read off reddit (lol) from people using it that they helped their allergies. i do not think it really did, but i think cause they lost weight and it helps with opening up passages they got relief.

you gotta give the drug companies credit for finding these drugs. its been in the works for 20-25 years but they finally did it. the guy who came up with it needs to get a nobel prize. i am thoroughly impressed and excited. i think every bodybuilding within 5-10 years will be using these in their cycles. of coures there will be a lag cause coaches are super stubborn and stuck in their ways in our industry. i still see coaches recommending clen or crazy stim caffeine drugs. why in the world would you use a nasty drug like clen when you can use these instead? they are far more effective and they cause little to no sides. its a no brainer
 
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