Tirzepatide and Pregnancy: Risks, When to Stop
The Tirzepatide label: Data on Pregnancy are too limited for the risk to be assessed; talk with your doctor before trying to conceive.
- Brands
- Mounjaro and Zepbound
Zepbound overview
Its half-life is 5 to 6 days: half disappears after 5.5 d, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (27.5 d in total).
In SURMOUNT-1 over 72 weeks, 20.9% of body weight was lost compared with 3.1% on placebo.
Monthly prices in US dollars include list prices and self-pay offers. Each comes from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), Eli Lilly 1 2, cnbc.com.
Pregnancy guidance in the label
| Medicine | What the label says |
|---|---|
 Mounjaro | Data on Pregnancy are too limited for the risk to be assessed; talk with your doctor before trying to conceive. |
 Zepbound | You gain nothing from weight loss while pregnant, and it may harm your baby. Stop once you know you are pregnant. |
Source: the FDA labels. DailyMed 1 FDA label DailyMed 2 FDA label.
What is different for pregnancy?
| What changes | What the label says | Labels |
|---|---|---|
| Taken with birth control pills | For a while, it can reduce how well birth control pills work. After you start, and after each dose increase, add a barrier method or use a non-oral method. | All of them |
Source: FDA labels, see FDA label on DailyMed.
Source: the label warnings in the FDA label on DailyMed.
Each GLP-1 label on pregnancy
| Medicine | What the label says | How it is taken |
|---|---|---|
| Mounjaro | Data on Pregnancy are too limited for the risk to be assessed; talk with your doctor before trying to conceive. | weekly injection |
| Zepbound | You gain nothing from weight loss while pregnant, and it may harm your baby. Stop once you know you are pregnant. | weekly injection |
 Ozempic | When a pregnancy is planned, stop at least 2 months beforehand. Data on pregnancy are limited. | weekly injection |
 Wegovy | During pregnancy, weight loss gives no benefit and may harm the baby. Stop if you are pregnant, and at least 2 months before you try to conceive. | weekly injection or daily tablet |
 Rybelsus | When a pregnancy is planned, stop at least 2 months beforehand. Data on pregnancy are limited. | daily tablet |
 Foundayo | You gain nothing from weight loss while pregnant, and it may harm your baby. Stop once you know you are pregnant and use effective birth control while taking it. | daily tablet |
 Trulicity | Data on Pregnancy are too limited for the risk to be assessed; talk with your doctor before trying to conceive. | weekly injection |
 Saxenda | There is no benefit from losing weight in pregnancy. Animal studies point to a possible risk for the baby. | daily injection |
 Victoza | Use this medicine during pregnancy only if the possible risk to the baby is acceptable given its benefit. | daily injection |
| Byetta | Data on Pregnancy are too limited for the risk to be assessed; talk with your doctor before trying to conceive. | twice-daily injection |
Source: FDA label on DailyMed.
Questions to ask your prescriber
- How long before I try to conceive should I stop taking it?
- What should I do if I become pregnant while taking it?