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Quick summary

Type of Medicine

Once weekly injectable that activates both the GLP-1 and GIP appetite hormones

Generic

No

Active Ingredient

Tirzepatide, supplied in single dose prefilled pens

Effective Within

Appetite often quietens within the first couple of weeks. Weight then falls steadily across three to six months as the dose is built up.

Works By

Activates the GLP-1 and GIP gut hormones to curb appetite, slow stomach emptying and increase fullness.

Side Effects

Nausea, diarrhea, constipation and a feeling of fullness are the usual early complaints, almost always easing as the body adjusts. Rarer concerns include pancreatitis and gallbladder problems.

Wegovy® pen or pill?

Zepbound® KwikPen®
From $299.00
Foundayo Tablets
From $149.00
Zepbound® Pen

Eli Lilly

Zepbound® Pen
$1,245.00
How it’s taken

One weekly shot with one pen a month

One tablet a day

One weekly shot with one pen a week.

Average weight loss

Lose around 20–21% of body weight*

Lose around 11% of body weight*

Lose around 20–21% of body weight*

Best for

People who prefer a weekly routine

People who prefer no needles

People who prefer a weekly routine

How to take it

Inject under the skin using a pre-filled pen. The same pen has 4 doses for 4 weeks.

Take on an empty stomach with water

Inject under the skin using a pre-filled pen.

Payment method

Cash-pay only

Cash-pay only

Cash-pay or insurance might be available

How it works

From question to doorstep, in days not weeks.

Product details

Zepbound is the treatment that changed the conversation around obesity. Its active ingredient, tirzepatide, is the first approved medicine to work on two of the body's appetite hormones at the same time, GLP-1 and GIP. That combination is what sets it apart, and it is why the results in clinical study have been so striking.

In the pivotal SURMOUNT trial, adults taking the highest dose lost on average close to a fifth of their body weight over roughly seventeen months, compared with very little change on placebo. Most people start low and build up slowly over several weeks, which gives the body time to settle and keeps side effects manageable.

You inject it just under the skin once a week, on any day that suits your routine, using a simple pen that holds a single dose. Appetite tends to quieten first; the weight follows.

  • Tirzepatide acts on two appetite pathways, not one, which is unique among approved treatments
  • The dose climbs gradually so your body adjusts comfortably
  • One injection a week, taken at the same time on whichever day you choose

Like others in its class, tirzepatide carries a boxed warning relating to a rare thyroid tumor seen in animal studies, so it is not suitable for anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or the MEN 2 syndrome. It is available only on prescription.

Inject once a week under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, on the same day each week, rotating the site each time. Start at the lowest dose and step up only as directed, usually no sooner than every four weeks. Let a refrigerated pen sit briefly to take the chill off before use. If a dose is more than four days late, skip it and resume your usual schedule. Never take two doses close together.

Tirzepatide as the active ingredient, in a sterile solution for injection.

Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, indigestion and early fullness are common while the dose climbs and usually ease with time. Less often: gallbladder problems, pancreatitis, and low blood sugar when combined with other diabetes medicines. Injection site reactions can occur.

Carries a boxed warning for a rare thyroid tumor seen in animal studies. Do not use if you or a close relative has had medullary thyroid cancer or the MEN 2 syndrome. Seek urgent care for severe, persistent abdominal pain, which can signal pancreatitis. Not for use in pregnancy.

FAQs

How quickly will I lose weight on Zepbound?

Most people notice appetite easing within the first couple of weeks, with steady weight loss building over three to six months as the dose increases. The pace is gradual by design.

Will I regain the weight if I stop?

Weight tends to return after stopping, as appetite returns to its baseline. Zepbound works best as a long term part of a wider plan rather than a short course.

What can I do about the nausea?

Early nausea usually settles as your body adjusts. Smaller, lower fat meals and stopping when full help, and your clinician can slow the dose increases if needed.

How should Zepbound be stored?

Zepbound should be stored in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). Do not freeze. Keep the pen in its original packaging to protect from light. Once in use, it may be kept at room temperature for 30 days.

What is the difference between Wegovy and Zepbound?

Wegovy and Zepbound are both injectable medications used primarily for weight management in adults, but they differ in their active ingredients and mechanisms of action.

Wegovy:

Active Ingredient: Semaglutide.
Mechanism of Action: Wegovy functions as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, mimicking the action of the glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone which regulates appetite and calorie intake. It enhances feelings of fullness and reduces hunger, leading to a reduction in food intake.
Usage: Approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or dyslipidemia.

Zepbound:

Active Ingredient: Tirzepatide.
Mechanism of Action: Zepbound is unique in that it acts as both a GLP-1 and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptor agonist. This dual action not only helps in reducing appetite and food intake like GLP-1 agonists but also enhances insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner and possibly affects fat metabolism.
Usage: Initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, with promising results in significant weight reduction, leading to its approval for use in obesity management as well.

While both medications are part of a broader category of drugs used for metabolic management, the dual mechanism of Zepbound may offer broader metabolic effects compared to Wegovy. Both have shown effectiveness in weight loss and improvements in various metabolic parameters in clinical trials, but the choice between them may depend on individual health profiles, specific medical conditions, and healthcare provider recommendations.

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