Zepbound Side Effects by Frequency: Common, Serious
In the Zepbound label, nausea is the most common side effect: 29% on 10 mg vs 8% on placebo. Next come diarrhea and constipation.
- Most common
- Nausea 29%
- Same on placebo
- 8%
- Stopped because of side effects
- 6.7%
- Trial group
- Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management)
Zepbound in brief
Half-life is 5 to 6 days: after 5.5 d, half of it is gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (27.5 d).
In SURMOUNT-1 over 72 weeks, 20.9% of body weight versus 3.1% on placebo.
Price points for each month, in US dollars, cover the list price and self-pay offers, and each one comes from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), Eli Lilly 1 2, cnbc.com.
Zepbound side effects: label rates vs placebo
Based on placebo-controlled trials, the FDA label names 16 side effects that are common with Zepbound. In the last column, you can see how much more often each effect appeared than it did on placebo.
| Side effect | Placebo | Zepbound 5 mg | Zepbound 10 mg | Zepbound 15 mg | More than placebo, 15 mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 8% | 25% | 29% | 28% | +20 points |
| Diarrhea | 8% | 19% | 21% | 23% | +15 points |
| Constipation | 5% | 17% | 14% | 11% | +6 points |
| Vomiting | 2% | 8% | 11% | 13% | +11 points |
| Abdominal Pain | 5% | 9% | 9% | 10% | +5 points |
| Dyspepsia | 4% | 9% | 9% | 10% | +6 points |
| Injection Site Reactions | 2% | 6% | 8% | 8% | +6 points |
| Fatigue | 3% | 5% | 6% | 7% | +4 points |
| Hypersensitivity Reactions | 3% | 5% | 5% | 5% | +2 points |
| Eructation | 1% | 4% | 5% | 5% | +4 points |
| Hair Loss | 1% | 5% | 4% | 5% | +4 points |
| Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease | 2% | 4% | 4% | 5% | +3 points |
| Dizziness | 2% | 4% | 5% | 4% | +2 points |
| Flatulence | 2% | 3% | 3% | 4% | +2 points |
| Abdominal Distension | 2% | 3% | 3% | 4% | +2 points |
| Hypotension | 0% | 1% | 1% | 2% | +2 points |
Source: FDA label on DailyMed.
The serious warnings, in plain terms
- A boxed warning covers Thyroid C-cell tumors. It caused thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents, but it is not known whether it causes them in people. Do not use it if anyone in your family has had medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), if you have that history, or if you have MEN 2.
- Severe stomach and gut reactions. Stomach and gut side effects are common, and some may be severe. It is not recommended for people with severe gastroparesis.
- Kidney injury from fluid loss. Losing fluid can lead to kidney injury. Drink fluids and report heavy fluid loss.
- Gallbladder disease. Gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder can both happen. Report belly pain in the upper right area, a fever, or skin or eyes turning yellow.
- Pancreatitis. Inflammation of the pancreas. Stop it and get care when severe stomach pain does not ease and sometimes spreads to the back.
- Allergic reactions can be severe. Some reports describe serious allergic reactions involving swelling of the face, lips, or throat. Should this happen, stop it and seek help immediately.
- Low blood sugar. Used together with insulin or a sulfonylurea, it makes low blood sugar more likely, so those doses may need to come down.
- Diabetic eye disease getting worse. Diabetic eye disease that gets worse People with type 2 diabetes may find their diabetic eye disease getting worse, especially when blood sugar drops fast. Already having diabetic eye disease means eye checks matter.
- Food getting into your lungs during anesthesia or sedation Food can stay in your stomach longer, and this matters during anesthesia or deep sedation. Tell your care team before any procedure.
Source: FDA label on DailyMed.
Source: FDA label on DailyMed.
Common side effects, one by one
- Nausea rates: 29% with 10 mg, compared with 8% for placebo
- Diarrhea rates: 23% with 15 mg, compared with 8% for placebo
- Constipation rates: 17% with 5 mg, compared with 5% for placebo
- Dyspepsia rates: 10% with 15 mg, compared with 4% for placebo
- Fatigue rates: 7% with 15 mg, compared with 3% for placebo
- Hair Loss rates: the rate was 5% with 5 mg, compared with 1% for placebo
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: the rate was 5% at 15 mg, compared with 2% for placebo
Questions about Zepbound also cover Butt changes, Face changes, and Headache.