Zepbound and Pregnancy: Risks, When to Stop
The Zepbound label: Weight loss in pregnancy brings no benefit, and harm to the baby is possible; stop once a pregnancy is recognized.
- Active ingredient
- tirzepatide
- How it is taken
- weekly injection
Zepbound in brief
The half-life ranges from 5 to 6 days: 5.5 d leaves half behind, and five half-lives (27.5 d) leave about 3%.
In SURMOUNT-1, at 72 weeks the figure for body weight was 20.9%, against 3.1% on placebo.
Prices each month in US dollars include the list cost and self-pay offers, each taken from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), Eli Lilly 1 2, cnbc.com.
Zepbound: guidance for pregnancy on the label
| Medicine | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Zepbound | Weight loss in pregnancy brings no benefit, and harm to the baby is possible; stop once a pregnancy is recognized. |
Labels: FDA label on DailyMed.
What is different for pregnancy?
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Taken with birth control pills | For a while, this medicine can reduce the effect of birth control pills. After you start and after each dose increase, use a method you do not take by mouth, or add a barrier method. |
Labels: FDA label on DailyMed.
Warnings: DailyMed FDA label.
Each GLP-1 label on pregnancy
| Medicine | What the label says | How it is taken |
|---|---|---|
| Zepbound | Weight loss in pregnancy brings no benefit, and harm to the baby is possible; stop once a pregnancy is recognized. | weekly injection |
 Ozempic | If pregnancy is in your plans, stop at least 2 months ahead of time; data on pregnancy are limited. | weekly injection |
 Wegovy | Losing weight during pregnancy gives no benefit and may harm the baby. Stop if you are pregnant, and stop at least 2 months ahead of trying to conceive. | weekly injection or daily tablet |
 Rybelsus | If pregnancy is in your plans, stop at least 2 months ahead of time; data on pregnancy are limited. | daily tablet |
 Mounjaro | The risk cannot be determined from the limited Pregnancy data; speak with your doctor before you try to become pregnant. | weekly injection |
 Foundayo | Weight loss in pregnancy brings no benefit, and harm to the baby is possible; stop once a pregnancy is recognized and use effective birth control while taking it. | daily tablet |
 Trulicity | The risk cannot be determined from the limited Pregnancy data; speak with your doctor before you try to become pregnant. | weekly injection |
 Saxenda | Losing weight during pregnancy offers no benefit. Animal studies suggest a possible risk to the baby. | daily injection |
 Victoza | Take it during pregnancy only if its benefit justifies the possible risk to the baby. | daily injection |
| Byetta | The risk cannot be determined from the limited Pregnancy data; speak with your doctor before you try to become pregnant. | twice-daily injection |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Questions to ask your prescriber
- How soon should I stop taking it before I try to conceive?
- What should I do if I get pregnant while taking it?
Read the full prescribing information for Zepbound on DailyMed.