Today, the FDA approved Zepbound (Tirzepatide) for the treatment of obesity or overweight with weight-related medical problems. This is great news as the FDA just added one more tool to the armamentarium used to combat this major public health problem.
Obesity is recognized as a chronic disease with far-reaching impacts on health. Beyond its visible effects on body weight, obesity contributes to a wide range of serious health issues. These include an elevated risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, certain cancers, sleep apnea, and joint problems, among others. Additionally, obesity can have profound effects on mental health, leading to conditions like depression and low self-esteem. The chronic nature of obesity means that it often requires long-term management and lifestyle changes to mitigate its health consequences. Recognizing obesity as a chronic disease is crucial to destigmatizing it, fostering early intervention, and promoting comprehensive care that encompasses both physical and mental well-being.
The use of medications in the treatment of obesity as a chronic disease has become increasingly important in recent years. While lifestyle modifications, including diet and exercise, are fundamental components of obesity management, medications can play a crucial role in cases where these lifestyle changes alone are insufficient. Medications designed for obesity treatment typically work by affecting appetite, metabolism, or the absorption of nutrients. They are most effective when used as part of a comprehensive weight management plan, under the supervision of healthcare professionals. For the longest time, weight loss medications were not terribly effective, and they were poorly tolerated in most cases. More recently, with the advent of GLP-1 agonists, the efficacy and tolerability of these medications propelled them to the forefront of obesity treatment. The approval of Zepbound, with its efficacy and weight loss results represents a new milestone in the fight against the public health crisis of obesity.
What is Zepbound?
Zepbound is an injectable prescription medicine that may help adults with obesity, or with excess weight (overweight) who also have weight-related medical problems, lose weight and keep it off. Zepbound should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
How is Zepbound different than Mounjaro?
Tirzepatide was approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes under the brand name Mounjaro. The same compound was approved by the FDA under the brand name Zepbound for the treatment of obesity and overweight.
How does Zepbound work?
Zepbound (Tirzepatide) is the first and only obesity treatment of its kind that activates both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) hormone receptors. This means it works by mimicking the functions of these naturally occurring hormones in the body. GLP-1 and GIP are hormones that play a crucial role in regulating glucose metabolism and energy homeostasis. They stimulate insulin secretion, slow gastric emptying, and reduce appetite, thereby contributing to weight loss.
How can I get a Zepbound prescription?
Zepbound is indicated for adults with obesity (with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater), or those who are overweight (with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater) and also have weight-related medical problems such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea or cardiovascular disease, to lose weight and keep it off. Talk to your doctor about whether Zepbound is the right medication for you.
How much weight can I lose with Zepbound?
In SURMOUNT-1, a study involving more than 2,500 adults, people taking Zepbound as an adjunct to diet and exercise experienced substantial weight loss compared with placebo at 72 weeks. At the highest dose (15 mg), people taking Zepbound lost on average 48 lb., while at the lowest dose (5 mg), people lost on average 34 lb. (compared to 7 lb. on placebo). Additionally, 1 in 3 patients taking Zepbound at the highest dose lost over 58 lb. (25% of body weight), compared to 1.5% on placebo.
What side effects can I get with Zepbound?
Zepbound use may be associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions. The most commonly reported adverse events are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. In studies, most nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting occurred when people increased their dose, but the effects generally decreased over time.
Are there any contraindications to taking Zepbound?
Zepbound is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma and in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2.
What is the dosage of Zepbound?
Zepbound is started at the lowest dose of 2.5 mg once a week and then gradually increased up the the highest dose of 15 mg once a week.
Is Zepbound an injection or a pill?
Zepbound comes as a prefilled pen needle for subcutaneous injection. There is no oral version of Tirzepatide.
Where can I inject Zepbound?
You or another person can inject the medicine in your stomach (abdomen) or thigh. If another person is giving you the injection, they can give you the Zepbound injection in the back of your upper arm.
How long do I need to stay on Zepbound injections?
Zepbound is approved for long-term use for weight loss and weight maintenance. If you stop the medication, you may gain some or all of the weight back. It is important to note that the medication is supposed to be used as an adjunct to diet and exercise. Making changes in your lifestyle, diet, and physical activity, make it less likely to regain weight.
Can I get a Zepbound prescription near me?
Zepbound will be available in the US by the end of year 2023. If you are in Maryland or the Washington, DC metropolitan area, please visit us today at The Silhouette Clinic or call us at: (301) 288-1319. Our weight loss specialists will discuss with you various weight loss medication options including Tirzepatide.