Zepbound

Zepbound (tirzepatide) is a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist used for weight loss for adults with obesity or who are overweight and have weight-related medical problems. Zepbound helps you to lose weight and maintain the weight loss and should be combined with diet and exercise. Zepbound works for weight loss by decreasing your appetite and slowing the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine, which may make you feel full more quickly and for a longer period of time.

Zepbound is a once-weekly injection given under the skin (subcutaneous) using a pre-filled single-dose pen.

Zepbound contains the same active ingredient (tirzepatide) as Mounjaro, and they are both made by Eli Lilly and Company. Zepbound is a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, so its mechanism of action is it activates both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) hormone receptors. 

Patients on Zepbound (tirzepatide) 5mg weekly lost 16.1 kg (35.5 lb) on average after 72 weeks. For Zepbound 10mg weekly dose, the average weight loss was 22.2 kg (48.9 lb), and for Zepbound 15mg weekly dose average weight loss was 23.6 kg (52.0 lb) over 72 weeks. Patients who used a placebo lost 2.4 kg (5.3 lb) over the 72 weeks. These results are from the clinical trial SURMOUNT-1, NCT04184622.  Individual results may vary. 

The most common Zepbound side effects include abdominal pain, burping, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, fatigue, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hair loss, hypersensitivity reactions, injection site reactions, nausea, and vomiting which affects 5% or more patients

Serious Zepbound side effects

Stop using this medicine and get emergency medical help if you have:

• signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; feeling light-headed; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; or

• pancreatitis with symptoms of severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe stomach problems;

• eye side effects or vision changes, including blurry vision or blurred vision;

• signs of a thyroid tumor symptoms may include swelling or a lump in your neck, trouble swallowing, a hoarse voice, or if you feel short of breath;

• gallbladder problem with symptoms including chalky-colored stools, stomach pain after eating, nausea, heartburn, bloating, and severe upper stomach pain that may spread to your back;

• low blood sugar symptoms may include headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, or feeling jittery; or

• kidney problems with little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

You should not use Zepbound if you:

• are allergic to the tirzepatide or any ingredients contained in this medicine; see ingredients at the bottom of this page.

• have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (a type of thyroid cancer); or

• multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (tumors in your glands).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• pancreas problems;

• kidney disease;

• a severe stomach problem such as problems with digesting food or slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis); or

• diabetic retinopathy (a diabetes complication that affects the eyes).