Guide
What is tirzepatide?
By the TreatmentMD editorial team
Key takeaways
- Tirzepatide is a weekly shot that acts like two gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, so you feel full sooner and less hungry.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
- For weight loss, it's sold as Zepbound®. Mounjaro® is the same medicine, approved for type 2 diabetes.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
- In the main study, people lost about 15% to 21% of their weight, depending on the dose. Paying cash, Zepbound® starts at $299 a month.2The New England Journal of MedicineRandomized trial · 2022SURMOUNT-1Mean body weight fell 20.9 percent at the 15 mg dose against 3.1 percent on placebo over 72 weeks.2,539 people · 72 weeks. Adults with BMI 30 or above, or 27 or above with at least one weight-related complication, without diabetes.Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity. Jastreboff AM, et al., 2022.Read the study All sources3Eli Lilly and CompanySourceLillyDirect. Zepbound® (tirzepatide) self-pay prices. Checked October 6, 2026.Open the source All sources
By the TreatmentMD editorial team
If you've heard of Zepbound® or Mounjaro®, you've already met tirzepatide.
It's the medicine inside both, and it's been around since 2022. Here's a friendly tour of what it is, how it works and how people get it.4U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA. Drugs@FDA approval letters for Mounjaro® (2022, 2025, 2026), Zepbound® (2023, 2024, 2026) and Foundayo™ (2026).Open the source All sources
01The basics
What is tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide is a lab-made medicine that acts like two hormones your gut releases after you eat: GLP-1 and GIP.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Together, they help tell your brain you've had enough, so you feel satisfied on less food.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
It's a single molecule that switches on both. Semaglutide, by comparison, works on GLP-1 alone.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Working on two hormones may be part of why tirzepatide tends to lead to a bit more weight loss.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Tirzepatide is built to last about five days in your body, so one shot a week is enough.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Eli Lilly makes it. The FDA first approved it in 2022, as Mounjaro® for type 2 diabetes, and for weight loss in 2023, as Zepbound®.4U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA. Drugs@FDA approval letters for Mounjaro® (2022, 2025, 2026), Zepbound® (2023, 2024, 2026) and Foundayo™ (2026).Open the source All sources
New to all this? What is GLP-1? covers the basics of the whole family.
02The names
Zepbound® or Mounjaro®: which is which?
They're both tirzepatide. The name tells you what it's approved for.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources4U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA. Drugs@FDA approval letters for Mounjaro® (2022, 2025, 2026), Zepbound® (2023, 2024, 2026) and Foundayo™ (2026).Open the source All sources
| Approved for | How you take it | |
|---|---|---|
| Zepbound® | Weight loss, and sleep apnea in adults with obesity | A weekly shot |
| Mounjaro® | Type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 and older, and lowering heart risk in adults | A weekly shot |
For weight loss, it's Zepbound®. Mounjaro® is the diabetes version of the same medicine.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
You'd only ever take one of these at a time, and your clinician will help you pick the right one.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
03How it works
How does tirzepatide help you lose weight?
It turns down hunger and helps you feel full sooner.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Tirzepatide works on the parts of your brain that handle appetite, so you eat less without trying as hard. It also slows how fast your stomach empties, mostly in the early weeks.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Many people notice less hunger in the first few weeks, and fewer cravings for rich, sugary foods.5Nature MedicineRandomized trial · 2025By week 3, people on tirzepatide ate less at a test meal and reported fewer cravings for high-fat foods, sweets and fast food than on placebo.114 people · 6 weeks. Adults with overweight or obesity, without diabetes. Funded by Eli Lilly.Tirzepatide on ingestive behavior in adults with overweight or obesity: a randomized 6-week phase 1 trial. Martin CK, et al., 2025.Read the study All sources
Most of the weight people lose is fat rather than muscle.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
And no, it isn't insulin. It helps your body release its own insulin when blood sugar is high, which is why it also treats diabetes.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
04Who it's for
Who can take tirzepatide for weight loss?
Zepbound® is for adults with obesity, or with overweight plus a weight-related condition, like high blood pressure.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
In practice, that usually means a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a condition.4U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA. Drugs@FDA approval letters for Mounjaro® (2022, 2025, 2026), Zepbound® (2023, 2024, 2026) and Foundayo™ (2026).Open the source All sources
Zepbound® is for adults only. You don't need to have diabetes.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Your clinician will look at your health history and help you decide whether it's a good fit.
05Taking it
How do you take tirzepatide?
It's a weekly shot, on the same day each week, at any time, with or without food.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
You can use a single-dose pen, a KwikPen that holds four doses, or a vial with a syringe.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources3Eli Lilly and CompanySourceLillyDirect. Zepbound® (tirzepatide) self-pay prices. Checked October 6, 2026.Open the source All sources
With a KwikPen or a vial, you'll also need pen needles or syringes, which you can add when you order.3Eli Lilly and CompanySourceLillyDirect. Zepbound® (tirzepatide) self-pay prices. Checked October 6, 2026.Open the source All sources
You inject it under the skin of your stomach or thigh, or someone else can use the back of your upper arm.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
You start on 2.5 mg for four weeks. Then the dose steps up by 2.5 mg at a time, every four weeks or more.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Your long-term dose is 5, 10 or 15 mg, whichever works best for you.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Here's what to expect week by week.
06Results
How much weight do people lose on tirzepatide?
In the main study, people lost about 15% to 21% of their weight over 72 weeks, about 17 months, depending on the dose. On a placebo, they lost about 3%.2The New England Journal of MedicineRandomized trial · 2022SURMOUNT-1Mean body weight fell 20.9 percent at the 15 mg dose against 3.1 percent on placebo over 72 weeks.2,539 people · 72 weeks. Adults with BMI 30 or above, or 27 or above with at least one weight-related complication, without diabetes.Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity. Jastreboff AM, et al., 2022.Read the study All sources
In a three-year study of people with prediabetes, those on tirzepatide were still about 12% to 20% lighter than when they started.6The New England Journal of MedicineRandomized trial · 2025SURMOUNT-1, three yearsAfter three years, people on tirzepatide were 12.3% to 19.7% lighter than when they started, against 1.3% on placebo.1,032 people · 176 weeks. SURMOUNT-1 participants who also had prediabetes. Funded by Eli Lilly.Tirzepatide for obesity treatment and diabetes prevention. Jastreboff AM, et al., 2025.Read the study All sources
When it was compared directly with semaglutide, people lost more on tirzepatide on average: about 20% against about 14%.7The New England Journal of MedicineRandomized trial · 2025SURMOUNT-5People lost 20.2% of their weight on tirzepatide and 13.7% on semaglutide, in the only trial to compare the two directly.751 people · 72 weeks. Adults with obesity, without diabetes. Open label, funded by Eli Lilly.Tirzepatide as compared with semaglutide for the treatment of obesity. Aronne LJ, et al., 2025.Read the study All sources Here's how the two compare.
Everyone in these studies also had diet and activity coaching, and results varied from person to person.
Tirzepatide is usually a long-term treatment. If you stop, some weight often comes back, so it helps to plan the long run with your clinician.8The LancetRandomized trial · 2026SURMOUNT-MAINTAINA year after stepping down to 5 mg, people had kept about two-thirds of the weight they lost, against about two-fifths of those switched to placebo.378 people · 112 weeks: 60 weeks of weight loss, then 52 of maintenance. Adults with obesity, or overweight and a weight-related condition, who lost at least 5% in the first 60 weeks. Funded by Eli Lilly.Tirzepatide for maintenance of bodyweight reduction in people with obesity in the USA (SURMOUNT-MAINTAIN): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Horn DB, et al., 2026.Read the study All sources
07Beyond weight
What else does tirzepatide help with?
Zepbound® is also approved to treat moderate to severe sleep apnea in adults with obesity.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Mounjaro® also helps protect the heart in adults with type 2 diabetes at higher risk, lowering the chance of a heart attack or stroke.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
And in the three-year study of people with prediabetes, about 1 in 100 on tirzepatide went on to develop type 2 diabetes, against about 13 in 100 on a placebo.6The New England Journal of MedicineRandomized trial · 2025SURMOUNT-1, three yearsAfter three years, people on tirzepatide were 12.3% to 19.7% lighter than when they started, against 1.3% on placebo.1,032 people · 176 weeks. SURMOUNT-1 participants who also had prediabetes. Funded by Eli Lilly.Tirzepatide for obesity treatment and diabetes prevention. Jastreboff AM, et al., 2025.Read the study All sources
Your clinician can tell you which of these apply to you.
08Side effects
What are the side effects like?
The most common ones are stomach-related, like nausea, diarrhea, constipation or vomiting.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
They're usually mild to moderate, show up mostly while the dose is rising, and ease over time.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
A few habits make day-to-day life on tirzepatide easier:
Keep it in the fridge
A pen or vial can stay out for up to 21 days if you travel, and a KwikPen for up to 30.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Pick a shot day
Same day each week, any time. You can change the day if your last dose was at least three days earlier.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Eat smaller meals
Try splitting three meals into four or more smaller ones, and stop eating when you feel full.9Eli Lilly and CompanySourceLilly. Zepbound®: side effects, and tips for managing them. Checked October 6, 2026.Open the source All sources
Keep your muscles busy
Protein at every meal and strength training a few times a week help you keep muscle.10Obesity PillarsSourceMozaffarian D, Agarwal M, Aggarwal M, et al. Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: a joint Advisory from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society. Obesity Pillars. 2025;15:100181.Open the source All sources
Keep your clinician in the loop
Tell them how you're feeling, and let any doctor or dentist know you take tirzepatide, so they can plan around it.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Our week-by-week guide has more on the first months.
09Cost
How much does tirzepatide cost?
Paying cash, Zepbound® KwikPens and vials cost $299 a month for 2.5 mg and $399 for 5 mg. Higher doses are $449 when you refill on time, plus needles or syringes.3Eli Lilly and CompanySourceLillyDirect. Zepbound® (tirzepatide) self-pay prices. Checked October 6, 2026.Open the source All sources
With Medicare, the GLP-1 Bridge covers the Zepbound® KwikPen for $50 a month through 2027, for people who qualify.11Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesSourceCMS. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: information for providers. Checked October 6, 2026.Open the source All sources
Many online programs also offer compounded tirzepatide, made by licensed pharmacies. At the programs we rank, it started at $89 a month. We checked in late September and early October 2026.
Here's how compounded GLP-1s work.
10Getting started
How do you get tirzepatide?
You'll need a prescription. Many people start with an online program: you answer some health questions, and a licensed clinician decides whether tirzepatide fits.
We look at clinicians, pharmacies and pricing when we rank programs, so you can start with a shortlist.
Frequently asked questions.
Is tirzepatide the same as Mounjaro®?
It's the medicine inside Mounjaro®, and inside Zepbound® too.
Mounjaro® is approved for type 2 diabetes, and Zepbound® is the one approved for weight loss.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Is tirzepatide made from lizard venom?
No, that story belongs to exenatide, an older medicine first found in a lizard.
Tirzepatide is made in a lab, modeled on a human gut hormone called GIP.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources12U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Byetta® (exenatide): Description.All sources
Is there a generic tirzepatide?
Not yet.
Lilly's patents on tirzepatide don't start to run out until 2036.13U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA. Orange Book: patent and exclusivity information for Mounjaro® (NDA 215866) and Zepbound® (NDA 217806). Checked October 7, 2026.Open the source All sources
Is there a tirzepatide pill?
No, it only comes as a weekly shot.
If you'd like a pill, there's the Wegovy® pill, or Lilly's own Foundayo™, which is a different medicine.
Here's how pills compare with shots.4U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA. Drugs@FDA approval letters for Mounjaro® (2022, 2025, 2026), Zepbound® (2023, 2024, 2026) and Foundayo™ (2026).Open the source All sources
Does tirzepatide affect birth control pills?
It can, for a little while.
If you take the pill, your clinician may suggest a backup method, or a non-pill one, for four weeks after you start and after each step up.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
Can teens take tirzepatide?
Not for weight loss.
Zepbound® is for adults only, and Mounjaro® is approved for children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
How long does tirzepatide take to work?
Weight loss builds over months.
In the main study, people had lost about 3% by week 4 and about 6% by week 8, on average.1U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationSourceFDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.All sources
The bottom line
Tirzepatide is the medicine behind Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, a weekly shot that acts like two gut hormones to help you feel full sooner.
For weight loss, it's Zepbound®, and people in the main study lost about 15% to 21%.
A licensed clinician can tell you whether it fits, and our ranking can help you choose a program.
By the TreatmentMD editorial team
Medical disclaimerThis content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any weight-loss program or medication. Individual results may vary.
Sources
- 1FDA prescribing information for Zepbound® and Mounjaro®, with the Zepbound® Medication Guide and Instructions for Use: Indications and Usage; Dosage and Administration; Description; Clinical Pharmacology; Adverse Reactions; Storage.
- 2Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(3):205-216. doi.org
- 3LillyDirect. Zepbound® (tirzepatide) self-pay prices. Checked October 6, 2026. lilly.com
- 4FDA. Drugs@FDA approval letters for Mounjaro® (2022, 2025, 2026), Zepbound® (2023, 2024, 2026) and Foundayo™ (2026). accessdata.fda.gov
- 5Martin CK, Carmichael OT, Carnell S, et al. Tirzepatide on ingestive behavior in adults with overweight or obesity: a randomized 6-week phase 1 trial. Nat Med. 2025;31(9):3141-3150. doi.org
- 6Jastreboff AM, le Roux CW, Stefanski A, et al. Tirzepatide for obesity treatment and diabetes prevention. N Engl J Med. 2025;392(10):958-971. doi.org
- 7Aronne LJ, et al. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity (head-to-head trial). N Engl J Med. 2025;393(1):26-36. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2416394 doi.org
- 8Horn DB, Aronne LJ, Wharton S, et al. Tirzepatide for maintenance of bodyweight reduction in people with obesity in the USA (SURMOUNT-MAINTAIN). Lancet. 2026;407(10545):2305-2318. doi.org
- 9Lilly. Zepbound®: side effects, and tips for managing them. Checked October 6, 2026. lilly.com
- 10Mozaffarian D, Agarwal M, Aggarwal M, et al. Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: a joint Advisory from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society. Obesity Pillars. 2025;15:100181. nih.gov
- 11CMS. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: information for providers. Checked October 6, 2026. cms.gov
- 12FDA prescribing information for Byetta® (exenatide): Description.
- 13FDA. Orange Book: patent and exclusivity information for Mounjaro® (NDA 215866) and Zepbound® (NDA 217806). Checked October 7, 2026. accessdata.fda.gov
Product information
- Zepbound® (tirzepatide) is a prescription-only injectable medication FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or adults with overweight who have at least one weight-related medical condition. It is also approved for the treatment of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, and should be used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
- Ozempic® (semaglutide) is a prescription-only injectable medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is not FDA-approved for weight loss; however, weight reduction has been observed in some individuals with type 2 diabetes using the medication.
- Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) is a prescription-only injectable medication FDA-approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is not FDA-approved for weight loss; however, weight reduction has been observed in some individuals using the medication.
- Wegovy® (semaglutide) is a prescription-only injectable medication FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or adults with at least one weight-related medical condition, when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
- All medications require a medical evaluation and prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. Individual results may vary.
Important safety information
- Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies and are not FDA approved. The FDA does not review their safety, effectiveness or quality, and clinical trial results for brand-name drugs do not carry over to them.
- Semaglutide and tirzepatide carry a boxed warning for a risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, based on animal studies, and are not for anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or MEN2, or who is pregnant. Other warnings include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, and a higher risk of low blood sugar when combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea. The most common side effects are digestive, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation.
- This is a high-level summary, not a complete list. A licensed clinician will review your health history to decide whether a GLP-1 medication is right for you.
