Tirzepatide: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects, Cost
Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound, all from Eli Lilly. The first Tirzepatide brand, Mounjaro, was FDA approved in 2022. The lowest self-pay price is $299 per month for Zepbound.
- Brands
- Mounjaro and Zepbound
- Manufacturer
- Eli Lilly
- First brand approved
- 2022, Mounjaro
- Best trial weight loss
- 20.9% (SURMOUNT-1)
- Lowest self-pay
- $299 per month, Zepbound
- FDA shortage
- Resolved December 19, 2024
Zepbound in brief
Its half-life spans 5 to 6 days. By 5.5 d, half is gone; after five half-lives (27.5 d), about 3% remains.
SURMOUNT-1, 72 weeks: body weight dropped 20.9%, against 3.1% on placebo.
In US dollars, monthly prices include the list price and self-pay offers. Each comes from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), Eli Lilly 1 2, cnbc.com.
Tirzepatide brands compared
One ingredient appears in every brand, while each product has its own label, uses, and price.
What the Tirzepatide trials showed
| Trial | Who took part | Length | Group | Average weight loss | Placebo | A1C change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SURMOUNT-1 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 72 weeks | Tirzepatide 5 mg weekly | 15% | 3.1% | Not listed |
| SURMOUNT-1 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 72 weeks | Tirzepatide 10 mg weekly | 19.5% | 3.1% | Not listed |
| SURMOUNT-1 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 72 weeks | Tirzepatide 15 mg weekly | 20.9% | 3.1% | Not listed |
| SURMOUNT-2 | Adults with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes | 72 weeks | Tirzepatide 10 mg weekly | 12.8% | 3.2% | Not listed |
| SURMOUNT-2 | Adults with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes | 72 weeks | Tirzepatide 15 mg weekly | 14.7% | 3.2% | Not listed |
| SURMOUNT-5 | Adults with obesity, without type 2 diabetes | 72 weeks | Tirzepatide 10 or 15 mg weekly (Zepbound) | 20.2% | Not listed | Not listed |
| SURMOUNT-5 | Adults with obesity, without type 2 diabetes | 72 weeks | Semaglutide 1.7 or 2.4 mg weekly (Wegovy) | 13.7% | Not listed | Not listed |
| SURPASS-2 | Adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 5 mg weekly | Not listed | Not listed | -2.01 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-2 | Adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 10 mg weekly | Not listed | Not listed | -2.24 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-2 | Adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 15 mg weekly | Not listed | Not listed | -2.3 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-2 | Adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | 40 weeks | Semaglutide 1 mg weekly | Not listed | Not listed | -1.86 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-1 | Adults with type 2 diabetes receiving treatment through diet and exercise alone | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 5 mg weekly | Not listed | Not listed | -1.87 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-1 | Adults with type 2 diabetes receiving treatment through diet and exercise alone | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 10 mg weekly | Not listed | Not listed | -1.89 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-1 | Adults with type 2 diabetes receiving treatment through diet and exercise alone | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 15 mg weekly | Not listed | Not listed | -2.07 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
Tirzepatide side effects
Because each label studied different people and doses, start by comparing within one column.
| Side effect | Mounjaro | Zepbound |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 18% | 29% |
| Diarrhea | 17% | 23% |
| Constipation | 7% | 17% |
| Vomiting | 9% | 13% |
| Decreased Appetite | 11% | Not listed |
| Dyspepsia | 8% | 10% |
| Abdominal Pain | Not listed | 10% |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed) 1 2.
- Tirzepatide Side Effects
- Tirzepatide Long-Term Side Effects
- Tirzepatide Hair Loss
- Tirzepatide Diarrhea
- Tirzepatide Headaches
- Tirzepatide Constipation
- Tirzepatide Nausea
- Tirzepatide Muscle Loss
- Tirzepatide Face
- Tirzepatide Heartburn
- Is Tirzepatide Safe? Trial Data, FAERS Reports, Compounded Risks
- Tirzepatide Butt
These statements come from the label warnings: FDA label (DailyMed).
Generic and compounded Tirzepatide
Shortage resolved. On December 19, 2024, FDA confirmed this.
Sources: FDA.
Every Tirzepatide page
Side effects and safety
- Is Tirzepatide Safe? Trial Data, FAERS Reports, Compounded Risks
- Tirzepatide Butt
- Tirzepatide Constipation
- Tirzepatide Diarrhea
- Tirzepatide Face
- Tirzepatide Hair Loss
- Tirzepatide Headaches
- Tirzepatide Heartburn
- Tirzepatide Long-Term Side Effects
- Tirzepatide Muscle Loss
- Tirzepatide Nausea
- Tirzepatide Side Effects
Interactions
Who the drug is for
Comparisons with other drugs
Coverage, Cost and savings
- Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Tirzepatide? Criteria, Copay
- Does Cigna Cover Tirzepatide? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
- Does Kaiser Permanente Cover Tirzepatide? Criteria, Copay, How
- Does Medicaid Cover Tirzepatide? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
- Does Medicare Cover Tirzepatide? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
- Tirzepatide at CVS
- Tirzepatide Cost
- Tirzepatide Cost With Insurance
- Tirzepatide Cost Without Insurance
- Tirzepatide Coupon and Savings Card
- Tirzepatide Insurance Coverage
Getting a prescription
Living with it
- Protein on Tirzepatide
- Stopping Tirzepatide
- Tirzepatide and Creatine
- Tirzepatide and Exercise
- Tirzepatide and Intermittent Fasting
- Tirzepatide and Keto
- Tirzepatide and Vitamins
- Tirzepatide Before and After
- Tirzepatide Diet
- Tirzepatide Not Working? Causes by Dose and Week, and Fixes
- Tirzepatide on Reddit
- Tirzepatide Results by Week
- Tirzepatide Timeline
Trials, news and the label
- Compounded Tirzepatide
- How Tirzepatide Works (and How Fast)
- Is There a Generic Tirzepatide? Names, Patents, Compounded
- Tirzepatide FDA Approvals
- Tirzepatide Lawsuit
- Tirzepatide Pill
- Tirzepatide Prescribing Information
- Tirzepatide Trial
- Tirzepatide Vial
- Tirzepatide with B12
- Who Makes Tirzepatide? The Company, the Plants and the Supply