Zepbound is the latest remedy accredited within the U.S. by the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) for persistent weight administration.
Though not particularly accredited to deal with these circumstances, it additionally helps folks with insulin resistance obtain higher blood sugar and A1c ranges and decrease blood strain and levels of cholesterol.
This text will clarify the whole lot you have to learn about Zepbound earlier than taking the remedy.
(Picture courtesy of Eli Lilly and Firm.)
What’s Zepbound?
Zepbound belongs to the dual-action class of medicines generally known as glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. These medication are designed to imitate hormones that regulate blood sugar ranges and suppress urge for food in response to the consumption of particular vitamins, primarily carbohydrates and fat.
Permitted by the FDA on November 8, 2023, Zepbound is manufactured by Eli Lilly and Firm.
Its energetic ingredient, tirzepatide, is run as a once-weekly injection for persistent weight administration in adults who’re overweight or chubby and have a number of weight-related circumstances, similar to sort 2 diabetes, hypertension, or excessive ldl cholesterol.
Zepbound is a part of a broader class of medicines for weight administration that features FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonists like Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide).
Are Zepbound and Mounjaro the identical factor?
Mounjaro is a sister drugs to Zepbound. Whereas each medication have tirzepatide as their energetic ingredient, their accredited makes use of differ, with Mounjaro FDA-approved for managing blood sugar ranges in folks with sort 2 diabetes.
Learn extra in: Every little thing You Must Know About Mounjaro.
What are the advantages of Zepbound?
Zepbound is a strong remedy. There are a lot of advantages to taking Zepbound, together with the next:
Weight reduction
In a single medical trial for Zepbound, contributors who accomplished a 36-week therapy protocol skilled a median weight lack of 20.9 %.
From week 36 to week 88, contributors who continued with Zepbound skilled a further common weight discount of roughly 5.5 %, whereas those that had been switched to the placebo (inactive therapy) noticed a median weight achieve of 14 %. This demonstrates Zepbound’s effectiveness in sustaining the burden loss achieved in the course of the preliminary therapy part.
General, 89.5 % of the examine contributors receiving Zepbound at 88 weeks maintained at the very least 80 % of their weight reduction in comparison with 16.6 % receiving the placebo.
The general weight reduction from the beginning of the examine to week 88 was 25.3 % for these taking Zepbound versus 9.9 % for these taking the placebo.
The examine authors famous that contributors who had been switched to a placebo, successfully stopping Zepbound, regained a lot of the burden they’d misplaced. This highlights the significance of steady therapy with Zepbound to maintain the advantages of weight reduction.
In different analysis, Zepbound has been discovered to be much more efficient for weight reduction than Ozempic. Individuals who took Zepbound misplaced between 15 to 21 % of their physique weight, on common, in comparison with 14.9 % for individuals who took Ozempic.
Decrease blood strain
Though Zepbound is just not particularly accredited for treating hypertension, medical trials have proven that individuals taking Zepbound, alongside weight-reduction plan and train, skilled reductions in blood strain.
This discovering underscores the potential cardiovascular advantages related to weight reduction and metabolic enchancment achieved by means of Zepbound, which could possibly be significantly helpful for folks with diabetes, who typically take care of coexisting hypertension.
Decrease ldl cholesterol
Within the medical trials, contributors taking Zepbound, together with a nutritious diet and train, skilled enhancements of their levels of cholesterol.
Whereas Zepbound is just not formally accredited for ldl cholesterol administration, these enhancements spotlight the broader advantages of considerable weight reduction achieved with the remedy. Sustaining wholesome levels of cholesterol is extraordinarily vital for folks with diabetes, given their heightened danger for coronary heart illness and stroke.
Higher blood sugar ranges
In comparison with the placebo, Zepbound was related to vital enhancements in blood sugar (fasting blood glucose) and A1c ranges (a measure of glucose management over the earlier 2 to three months) in examine contributors as properly.
This can be as a result of GIP/GLP-1 medicines work by serving to the pancreas produce extra insulin, reducing the quantity of sugar launched by the liver, rising the physique’s sensitivity to insulin, and slowing digestion, making you are feeling full longer.
Though Zepbound itself is marketed for weight administration, tirzepatide, as famous earlier, can be accredited below the model identify Mounjaro for treating sort 2 diabetes. Subsequently, the noticed enhancements in blood sugar ranges current an additional advantage, particularly contemplating the widespread overlap between weight problems and sort 2 diabetes.
Why would you be prescribed Zepbound?
Zepbound is FDA-approved particularly for persistent weight administration.
The drugs is accredited to be used in adults 18 and older who’ve a body-mass index (BMI, a measure of weight relative to top) of 30 or increased, or if their BMI is 25 or increased and so they have one weight-related medical situation, similar to sort 2 diabetes, hypertension, or excessive ldl cholesterol.
Zepbound could decrease blood sugar ranges and enhance A1c, however it’s not a diabetes remedy. (Keep in mind that its energetic ingredient, tirzepatide, can be accredited for treating sort 2 diabetes below the model identify Mounjaro.)
If you don’t meet the standards to take Zepbound, it’s possible you’ll qualify for a GLP-1 remedy similar to Ozempic, Trulicity (dulaglutide), or Victoza (liraglutide), based mostly in your physician’s evaluation.
What are the unwanted side effects of Zepbound?
The commonest unwanted side effects skilled in medical trials had been gentle to average gastrointestinal occasions, similar to nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Different widespread unwanted side effects could embrace:
- Abdomen ache
- Constipation
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), for those who take insulin
Though uncommon, extra extreme problems could embrace:
- Thyroid tumors, together with most cancers
- Pancreatitis (irritation of the pancreas)
- Adjustments in imaginative and prescient (similar to worsening of diabetic retinopathy)
- Kidney issues
- Gallbladder issues, which can current as higher belly ache, fever, jaundice, or clay-colored stools
- Critical allergic reactions
- Hair loss and hair thinning (this can be a results of fast weight reduction and never a aspect impact of the remedy itself)
A number of of those extra extreme unwanted side effects can result in well being problems and loss of life.
Name your physician or search emergency medical consideration for those who:
- Develop a fever
- Expertise adjustments or worsening of your imaginative and prescient
- Really feel weak or in ache after taking the remedy
- Assume it’s possible you’ll be having an allergic response to the remedy
Search emergency medical consideration for those who’re experiencing extreme low blood sugar ranges, which could be deadly if not handled shortly.
Does Zepbound have an effect on starvation?
Sure — suppressing urge for food is a key mechanism by means of which Zepbound aids in weight reduction.
Zepbound does this in a couple of methods. First, it inhibits the discharge of glucagon from the liver, which naturally lowers blood sugar ranges and reduces starvation pangs.
Second, it slows abdomen emptying to maintain you feeling fuller for longer and fewer prone to snack on empty energy.
Third, it will increase insulin sensitivity by prompting the pancreas to launch insulin when blood sugar ranges are excessive. This stops blood sugar swings and reduces starvation at its core.
Moreover, Zepbound, by means of its GLP-1 receptor agonist exercise, immediately impacts urge for food facilities within the mind, additional contributing to a lowered sense of starvation and decrease calorie consumption.
What are the doses of Zepbound?
Zepbound is available in a number of totally different doses tailor-made to satisfy particular person wants, with the suitable dose relying on elements similar to your weight, tolerance to the remedy, any unwanted side effects skilled, well being historical past, targets, and life-style. The choice on the perfect dose in your scenario will probably be decided between you and your physician.
Zepbound is run subcutaneously (below the pores and skin) utilizing a single-dose injection pen, and is accessible within the following incremental doses to permit for dose adjustment :
- 2.5 milligrams (mg): That is the beginning dose.
- 5 mg
- 7.5 mg
- 10 mg
- 12.5 mg
- 15 mg
Every dose is run as soon as weekly with or with out meals, ideally on the identical day and on the identical time every week, to take care of constant blood ranges of the remedy.
Any adjustments to your dosing routine needs to be made below the steering of your physician, who can contemplate your response to the therapy and any unwanted side effects it’s possible you’ll encounter.
How a lot Zepbound ought to I take?
This determination needs to be made in session together with your physician. Nonetheless, initially, everybody who takes Zepbound begins with a 2.5 mg weekly injection to attenuate the danger of unwanted side effects and permit the physique to regulate to the remedy.
This beginning interval lasts for at the very least 4 weeks, offering a chance to observe for any antagonistic reactions. In medical trials, 7 % of contributors stopped taking the remedy resulting from antagonistic unwanted side effects.
Based mostly in your response and the remedy’s tolerability, your physician could alter your dose, with 15 mg as soon as weekly being the utmost really useful dose. It’s essential to observe your physician’s directions and to not change your dose with out medical recommendation.
What occurs if I take an excessive amount of Zepbound?
In the event you take an excessive amount of Zepbound it’s possible you’ll expertise extreme antagonistic unwanted side effects, together with:
- Debilitating nausea
- Extreme vomiting (with the shortcoming to maintain meals down)
- Diarrhea
- Abdomen ache
- Low blood sugar, particularly for those who’re additionally on insulin — this may be deadly if not handled instantly
Name your physician or search emergency medical consideration instantly for those who’ve by accident taken an excessive amount of Zepbound or by accident taken your dose twice inside one week.
Do I want to vary my weight-reduction plan to shed extra pounds on this remedy?
Altering your weight-reduction plan is just not strictly essential to shed extra pounds whereas taking Zepbound. Nonetheless, the remedy is best when used along side elevated bodily exercise and wholesome dietary adjustments.
Moreover, the remedy could make you nauseous, and it might make it more durable to eat giant meals and meals excessive in fats, particularly once you first begin taking the drug.
Speak together with your physician for those who’re keen on altering your weight-reduction plan, or meet with a registered dietitian (RD) to formulate a meal plan that can be just right for you and your well being targets.
Additionally converse together with your physician for those who’re experiencing antagonistic unwanted side effects like nausea and vomiting and are having hassle consuming common meals and snacks.
You might also must decrease your dose for those who’re coping with low blood sugars resulting from persistent nausea or vomiting.
What occurs if I miss a dose of Zepbound?
It’s no huge deal for those who forgot to take your weekly dose of Zepbound. Nonetheless, consistency is vital to the best well being advantages and success.
In the event you miss a dose of your remedy, attempt to take it as quickly as potential. Nonetheless, if it’s been greater than 4 days (96 hours) since your missed dose, simply skip that week and wait till your subsequent weekly dose to renew taking your remedy. This method helps make sure you don’t take doses too shut collectively, which might enhance the danger of unwanted side effects.
After addressing a missed dose, you’ll be able to proceed together with your common once-weekly dosing schedule. If wanted, the precise day of your weekly dose could be adjusted, so long as there’s a minimal interval of three days (72 hours) between doses. This flexibility means that you can keep the therapy’s effectiveness whereas accommodating any needed adjustments to your routine.
All the time verify together with your physician for those who’re not sure about find out how to handle a missed dose or you probably have any issues about your Zepbound therapy.
How do I take Zepbound?
Zepbound is taken by way of a subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injection utilizing a pen gadget, designed for self-administration at dwelling. It doesn’t are available in tablet type.
If there are any particles or discoloration current within the remedy, don’t use the pen, because it could possibly be expired.
Earlier than injecting, clear the injection web site with isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Rotate injection websites every week to forestall accidents and the event of scar tissue.
Zepbound can usually be injected below the pores and skin within the thigh, stomach, or higher arm.
Who shouldn’t take Zepbound?
Solely take Zepbound if it has been prescribed to you by your physician. This remedy is just not meant for the therapy of sort 1, sort 2, or gestational diabetes.
Zepbound is just not acceptable for folks below 18 years outdated.
It’s not really useful to be used if you’re pregnant, planning on changing into pregnant, or if you’re breastfeeding.
Don’t use Zepbound for those who or any of your loved ones members have ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or you probably have A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome sort 2 (MEN 2).
Don’t use Zepbound if you’re allergic to tirzepatide.
How can I cease taking Zepbound?
By no means cease taking your medicines with out consulting together with your physician first. Doing so could lead to fast weight achieve and insulin resistance.
Your physician can present steering on the perfect method to discontinuing Zepbound, which can embrace step by step tapering the dose.
Additionally discuss to your physician about an alternate remedy, train, or meal plan to assist fight any rebound results it’s possible you’ll expertise for those who resolve to cease taking Zepbound.
Does Zepbound change insulin?
No. Zepbound is just not insulin and it’s not an insulin substitute. It’s not FDA-approved for the therapy of diabetes.
In the event you’ve been prescribed Zepbound for persistent weight administration and now have diabetes, you’ll need to proceed taking your diabetes medicines, together with insulin, as prescribed.
Can I take Zepbound together with different medicines?
This may rely on what different sorts of medicines you’re at the moment prescribed.
All the time discuss to your physician earlier than starting a brand new remedy for those who take Zepbound.
In the event you’re being prescribed Zepbound, disclose all the present medicines you are taking to your physician and ask about any contraindications to your security and well-being.
In the event you take contraception capsules, remember that Zepbound could cut back their effectiveness in the course of the first 4 weeks of therapy and for 4 weeks following every dose enhance, requiring a dialogue on different or supplementary types of contraception together with your healthcare supplier.
Zepbound is usually not really useful for use together with different GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1 medicines like Wegovy, Mounjaro, Victoza, or Ozempic, because of the potential for additive results or elevated danger of unwanted side effects. Zepbound could be taken together with insulin.
How is Zepbound saved?
Zepbound needs to be saved refrigerated between 36 to 46 levels Fahrenheit (2 to eight levels Celsius). Don’t freeze Zepbound and don’t use the remedy whether it is or has been frozen.
How can I get a prescription for Zepbound?
Speak to your physician for those who want to get a prescription for Zepbound. They will see for those who qualify based mostly in your well being historical past and BMI and/or waist circumference.
Speak together with your physician if you don’t qualify for Zepbound however want to shed extra pounds.
They can advocate different FDA-approved weight-loss medicines which may be a greater match for you, similar to Wegovy.
How a lot does Zepbound price?
How a lot you pay for the drugs will rely in your insurance coverage protection. The checklist worth for Zepbound is $1,059.87 for a 30-day provide of the remedy.
Most individuals with insurance coverage protection is not going to pay wherever close to the checklist worth of the remedy. Nonetheless, protection and prices do differ by insurance coverage plan.
Sadly, presently, Medicare doesn’t cowl weight reduction medicines, together with Zepbound. Nonetheless, monetary help or affected person help packages provided by the remedy’s producer could also be obtainable to assist cut back prices for eligible folks.
Closing ideas
Zepbound marks a notable development in persistent weight administration, providing a brand new possibility for adults who’re overweight or chubby with associated well being circumstances.
As with every remedy, it’s vital to think about the advantages in opposition to potential unwanted side effects and to make use of Zepbound as a part of a broader well being technique that features life-style adjustments. Value and insurance coverage protection are additionally vital elements to think about.
In case you are keen on utilizing Zepbound for weight reduction, converse together with your healthcare supplier to find out if it’s best for you.
