What is Zepbound?
Zepboundis an FDA-approved medication developed for weight loss. The drug was developed by Eli Lilly, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies and released in November 2023. Eli Lilly, like Novo Nordisk, specializes in the development of drugs called GLP-1’s, which have been shown to work well in managing insulin levels in type-2 diabetics. Eli Lilly developed the drug Trulicity, based on a molecule called “dulaglutide.” They discovered that in overweight or obese diabetic patients, these drugs curbed appetites and led to remarkable weight loss properties. In June 2023, Eli Lilly released Mounjaro, the first tirzepatide approved by the FDA for treatment of type-2 diabetes. Zepbound, like Mounjaro, is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist that improves clinical outcomes beyond those achieved by GLP-1 agonists, that is approved by the FDA for the treatment of obesity.
How does Zepbound Work?
Zepbound’s active ingredient is called tirzepatide. Semaglutide works by mimicking the effects of a hormone your body produces when you eat food, called incretin. Tirzepatide functions as an imbalanced agonist with the greater potency of GIP agonists to complement the greater binding ability of GLP-1s. After you eat a big meal, your body releases incretin which signals the feeling of fullness and tells your brain to stop eating. In addition, it also helps to prevent the effects of insulin resistance which also contributes to a feeling of fullness and reduces cravings for sugary or unhealthy foods. Coupled with diet and exercise, Zepbound has been shown to have remarkable weight loss properties.
How do I take Zepbound?
Zepbound is taken as a once-weekly injection. The drug is prepackaged into a pen with a needle. You simply place the pen on your stomach or thigh and press down. You do not need to measure the medicine or handle the needles yourself. Injection is relatively painless and the prepackaged pens make taking the medicine easy. You also only need to inject once a week, with no pills or other required medicines at other times.
How much weight do I lose on Zepbound?
Tirzepatide users with type 2 diabetes lost an average of ~17lbs with diet and exercise over a 40 week period based on Eli Lily’s prescribing information. Another clinical study have shown as much as ~23% weight-loss with once weekly 15mg tirzepatide injections.
Zepbound Side Effects:
The majority of individuals who take Zepbound® typically experience minimal side effects. Nevertheless, some side effects are considered normal and not considered to be a serious health risk. The most frequent side effects that occur with Zepbound® are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, headache, fatigue, upset stomach, dizziness, bloating, belching or gas, stomach flu, heartburn, and loss of appetite. If any of these side effects become bothersome or persistent, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional. Your medical team can provide guidance and supportive care for any concerns that arise. In the event of severe side effects, such as anaphylaxis or breathing difficulties, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention.
Zepbound Black-Box Warning:
WARNING: Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats, Zepbound and medicines that work like Zepbound caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Zepbound will cause thyroid tumors, or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people. Do not take Zepbound if you or any of your family have ever had MTC or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
