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Zepbound
Used for Management with Incretin-based Therapies, Weight loss
Used for Management with Incretin-based Therapies, Weight loss
Zepbound (tirzepatide) is an injectable medication that's used along with diet and exercise. It helps with weight loss in adults who meet criteria for weight management therapy. It's also approved to treat moderate-to-severe sleep apnea. This medication belongs to the drug class called GIP and GLP-1 agonists. The dosage is 1 injection under the skin once a week. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and injection site reactions. Zepbound (tirzepatide) is only available as a brand-name medication.
What is Zepbound (tirzepatide)?
What is Zepbound (tirzepatide) used for?
In addition to a balanced diet and exercise plan:
- Weight loss and long-term weight management in adults considered obese or overweight with at least one weight-related condition (e.g., high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes)
- Moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults considered obese
How Zepbound (tirzepatide) works
Zepbound (tirzepatide) is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.
It works by acting like GLP-1 and GIP, two hormones that your gut releases into the body. These hormones are thought to play a role in controlling your appetite (how hungry you feel). In turn, they can affect how much food you eat.
By making you feel full longer and less hungry, Zepbound (tirzepatide) can help you lose weight. And by mainly reducing weight, the medication helps improve sleep apnea.
When does Zepbound (tirzepatide) start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Zepbound |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | GIP and GLP-1 agonist |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
More on Zepbound (tirzepatide) essentials
Side effects of Zepbound (tirzepatide)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Nausea (25-29%)
- Diarrhea (19-23%)
- Constipation (11-17%)
- Vomiting (8-13%)
- Stomach pain (9-10%)
- Indigestion (9-10%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Injection site reaction (e.g., bruising, redness, pain, itching)
- Feeling tired
- Feeling dizzy
- Burping
- Excessive gas
- Acid reflux
- Bloating
- Hair loss
- Faster heart rate
Zepbound (tirzepatide) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Kidney damage: nausea, vomiting, trouble urinating, muscle cramps, feeling confused, swelling in the ankles or feet, trouble breathing
- Gallbladder problems: upper stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, clay-colored stools, yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes
- Inflammation of the pancreas: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain (might spread to your back), yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes
- Serious allergic reaction: hives; trouble breathing; swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face
- Very low blood sugar: feeling hungry, fast heartbeat, shakiness, anxiety, sweating, tingling, dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, confusion
When do Zepbound (tirzepatide) possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Injection site reaction
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
More on Zepbound (tirzepatide) side effects
The following Zepbound (tirzepatide) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Change in vision
- Dehydration—increased thirst, dry mouth, feeling faint or lightheaded, headache, dark yellow or brown urine
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Gallbladder problems—severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever
- Kidney injury—decrease in the amount of urine, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
- Pancreatitis—severe stomach pain that spreads to your back or gets worse after eating or when touched, fever, nausea, vomiting
- Thyroid cancer—new mass or lump in the neck, pain or trouble swallowing, trouble breathing, hoarseness
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Upset stomach
Pros and cons of Zepbound (tirzepatide)
Pros
- Taken once a week
- Can take with or without food
- Has different forms for some people to choose from (vials, single-dose injectable pens, multi-dose KwikPens)
Cons
- Must inject under the skin
- Can cause bothersome side effects, like nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain
- Can't use with other tirzepatide products (Mounjaro) or with other GLP-1 agonists
Pharmacist tips for Zepbound (tirzepatide)
- You can inject Zepbound (tirzepatide) at any time of the day, with or without food. Try to inject it at the same time on the same day each week. This can be helpful for remembering when to inject the medication.
- You can change the day of the week you usually inject Zepbound (tirzepatide). If you do, make sure there's at least 3 days (72 hours) between two doses. This can help lower your risk of side effects like stomach upset.
- If you miss a dose of Zepbound (tirzepatide) and it's within 4 days (96 hours) of your missed dose, inject the medication as soon as you can. But if your next injection is in less than 3 days, skip the missed dose. Just wait to inject the medication on your regular day of the week and time. For both situations, continue your usual once-weekly dosing schedule.
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These side effects are more common when you first start the medication. They usually get better over a few months. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Tell your care team if these side effects get too severe.
- It's best to avoid alcohol while taking Zepbound (tirzepatide). Alcohol can make side effects like nausea and stomach pain worse. It can also make it harder to lose weight since it can add extra calories to your diet. And, it can mess with sleep if you have sleep apnea. Ask your prescriber if you have questions about avoiding alcohol.
- Tell your care team about all the medications you take and plan to take. They can make sure your medications are safe to take together. This is important because Zepbound (tirzepatide) can interact with some medications. For example, taking it with insulin can put you at risk of having very low blood sugar, which can be harmful.
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) might make birth control pills work less well. This can lead to an unplanned pregnancy. If you can get pregnant and are having sex, use back-up birth control, like condoms, for the first 4 weeks of starting Zepbound (tirzepatide). Also use a back-up method for 4 weeks after each dose increase. Talk to your primary care provider or gynecologist about other birth control options.
How to use and how to inject Zepbound (tirzepatide):
- A trained healthcare professional will teach you how to inject Zepbound (tirzepatide). They'll make sure you know how with the form of the medication you have before letting you do it on your own. Read the instructions for the single-dose vial, multi-dose vial, single-dose pen, or multi-dose KwikPen. Ask your care team if you have any questions.
- How to store Zepbound (tirzepatide): Store the medication in the refrigerator, but don't let it freeze. Keep it in the original container to protect from light. If needed, single-dose vials and pens can be out of the fridge at room temperature (up to 86ºF) for 21 days. Once at room temperature, don't put it back in the fridge. You can also keep multi-dose vials and KwikPens at room temperature for up to 30 days.
- Before injecting Zepbound (tirzepatide): Check that the medication is clear and colorless to slightly yellow. Don't use it if it's a different color or if it has particles inside. Wash your hands and clean the injection area with an alcohol wipe.
- Where to inject Zepbound (tirzepatide): Inject the medication under the skin of your stomach or thigh. Someone else can also help inject into the back of your upper arm. Pick a different spot to inject into each week. Don't inject into tender, bruised, scaly, hard, scarred, or damaged skin. This can help prevent skin irritation.
- For the Zepbound (tirzepatide) single-dose pen: Pull off the gray cap. Put the clear base of the pen flat against your skin. Unlock the pen when you're ready to inject. Then, press and hold the purple button for up to 10 seconds. The first click you hear tells you when the injection started and the second tells you when it's done. You should see the gray plunger through the pen when you're done.
- For the Zepbound (tirzepatide) multi-dose KwikPen: Use a new pen needle for each injection to avoid infection and blocked needles. Put a new needle on, take off its cap, and prime the pen as your care team showed you. You should see a small drop of medication at the tip. This step makes sure the pen works correctly and is ready for injection. Turn the dose knob to "1," insert the needle into your skin, press the knob all the way down, and slowly count to 5. When you see "0" in the window, take the needle out. Don't share your KwikPen, even with a new pen needle on.
- For the Zepbound (tirzepatide) single-dose and multi-dose vial: Follow your prescriber's instructions to safely draw up your dose into the syringe. Insert the needle into the skin and push down on the plunger. The needle should stay in your skin for at least 5 seconds during this time to make sure you've gotten your full dose. Then, pull the needle straight out.
- What to do after each Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection: Throw away used pens, used pen needles, used syringes, and used vials in a sharps container. This will help prevent you and others from getting hurt from needle sticks.
More on Zepbound (tirzepatide) tips
Risks and warnings for Zepbound (tirzepatide)
Zepbound (tirzepatide) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk of thyroid cancer
In studies on rats, some that were given Zepbound (tirzepatide) had a higher risk of thyroid cancer. It was more likely to happen when the rats got higher doses or were given the medication for a long time. We don't know if Zepbound (tirzepatide) can cause thyroid cancer in people.
But because of this risk, you shouldn't use Zepbound (tirzepatide) if you or someone in your family has medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). You also shouldn't use this medication if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Talk to your prescriber if you're worried about the risk of thyroid cancer with Zepbound (tirzepatide). Call your care team right away if you notice a lump on your neck. Also let them know if you have trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or a hoarse voice that won't go away. These might be signs of thyroid cancer.
Stomach problems
- Risk factors: Higher Zepbound (tirzepatide) dose
Zepbound (tirzepatide) can cause stomach problems, which can sometimes be severe. They can include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Tell your care team if you have stomach upset that bothers you a lot.
Zepbound (tirzepatide) isn't recommended for people with severe stomach issues. This includes people who have gastroparesis (slowed emptying of your stomach). Talk to your prescriber about other options.
Kidney damage
- Risk factors: History of kidney problems | Dehydration due to nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Some people who've taken Zepbound (tirzepatide) have had kidney problems. Sometimes, this can be caused by dehydration from side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These side effects can make you lose too much fluid from the body.
If you have stomach upset while taking Zepbound (tirzepatide), be sure to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Let your prescriber know if you have these side effects during treatment. Also tell them if you can't urinate or if you're not urinating as you usually do. You might need lab tests so your prescriber can make sure your kidneys are okay.
Gallbladder problems
Although it's rare, some people have had gallbladder problems while taking Zepbound (tirzepatide). This can include an inflamed gallblader or gallstones. Call your prescriber right away if you have severe pain in the upper stomach, nausea, vomiting, or fever. These could be signs of gallbladder problems.
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
Some people who've taken Zepbound (tirzepatide) had swelling or inflammation in their pancreas. This problem is called pancreatitis. It can sometimes cause serious damage to the pancreas or bleeding.
Stop using Zepbound (tirzepatide) and tell your care team if you have any signs of pancreatitis. Watch for severe stomach pain that doesn't go away, pain that goes to your back, nausea, or vomiting. Also look out for jaundice, or yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
Allergic reactions
- Risk factors: Allergy to GLP-1 agonists
Some people can have a serious allergic reaction to Zepbound (tirzepatide). Tell your prescriber if you've had an allergic reaction to other GLP-1 agonists. It's not known if you could have a similar reaction to Zepbound (tirzepatide). Also, don't use Zepbound (tirzepatide) if you've had an allergic reaction to Mounjaro (tirzepatide).
Get emergency medical help right away if you have an allergic reaction to Zepbound (tirzepatide). Watch for swelling of your face, lips, or tongue. Also look out for trouble breathing, a rash, hives, or other symptoms of anaphylaxis.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Risk factors: Type 2 diabetes | Using insulin | Taking medications that raise the amount of insulin in your body (e.g., sulfonylureas like glipizide)
Zepbound (tirzepatide) can lower your blood sugar. When your blood sugar is too low, it's called hypoglycemia.
Taking Zepbound (tirzepatide) with certain medications can put you at risk of having very low blood sugar. These medications typically raise the amount of insulin in your body. Examples include insulin and sulfonylureas like glipizide. Before you start Zepbound (tirzepatide), ask your prescriber if you need any dose changes to your medications to lessen this risk.
Make sure you know how to tell and what to do when you have low blood sugar. Keep glucose tablets or hard candy with you at all times so you can take them when your blood sugar drops too low. Get medical help right away if you still feel shaky, nervous, dizzy, weak, or confused, even after you've treated yourself for low blood sugar.
Eye problems in people with Type 2 diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)
- Risk factors: History of eye problems caused by high blood sugar | Rapid improvement in blood sugar
Let your prescriber know if you have Type 2 diabetes and an eye problem called diabetic retinopathy. Zepbound (tirzepatide) might make your eye problem worse.
Also, tell your eye specialist that you're taking Zepbound (tirzepatide). You'll need to get your eyes checked often to make sure your vision is okay. Call your care team if you notice unusual vision changes.
Lung problems during general anesthesia or deep sedation
While under general anesthesia or deep sleep, some people taking GLP-1 agonists like Zepbound (tirzepatide) had a serious lung problem. This happens when food or liquid gets into the lungs.
Although rare, it can happen because Zepbound (tirzepatide) makes food stay in your stomach longer. So even if you followed the instructions about not eating before your procedure, there could still be food in your stomach. And this food could potentially get into the lungs.
Always tell your prescriber if you have any planned procedures or surgeries. And before any surgery, tell the medical team that you're taking Zepbound (tirzepatide). This helps the medical team watch for this lung problem and keep you safe.
Don't share Zepound KwikPens with anyone
Don't share your Zepbound (tirzepatide) KwikPen with anyone, even if you use a new pen needle. Sharing the KwikPen can spread germs and cause infection.
Zepbound (tirzepatide) dosage
The average cost for 1 carton of 4 prefilled pens of 2.5mg/0.5ml of Zepbound (tirzepatide) is $25.00 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 98.18% off the average retail price of $1,373.90. 
Carton
Kwikpen
Carton| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 prefilled pens of 2.5mg/0.5ml | 1 carton | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| 4 prefilled pens of 5mg/0.5ml | 1 carton | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| 4 prefilled pens of 7.5mg/0.5ml | 1 carton | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| 4 prefilled pens of 10mg/0.5ml | 1 carton | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| 4 prefilled pens of 12.5mg/0.5ml | 1 carton | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| 4 prefilled pens of 15mg/0.5ml | 1 carton | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| 4 vials of 2.5mg/0.5ml | 1 carton | $299.00 | $299.00 |
| 4 vials of 5mg/0.5ml | 1 carton | $299.00 | $299.00 |
| 4 vials of 7.5mg/0.5ml | 1 carton | $299.00 | $299.00 |
| 4 vials of 10mg/0.5ml | 1 carton | $299.00 | $299.00 |
| 4 vials of 12.5mg/0.5ml | 1 carton | $299.00 | $299.00 |
| 4 vials of 15mg/0.5ml | 1 carton | $299.00 | $299.00 |
Kwikpen| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 doses of 2.5mg of 10mg/2.4ml | 1 kwikpen | $485.29 | $485.29 |
| 4 doses of 5mg of 20mg/2.4ml | 1 kwikpen | $485.29 | $485.29 |
| 4 doses of 7.5mg of 30mg/2.4ml | 1 kwikpen | $485.29 | $485.29 |
| 4 doses of 10mg of 40mg/2.4ml | 1 kwikpen | $677.29 | $677.29 |
| 4 doses of 12.5mg of 50mg/2.4ml | 1 kwikpen | $677.29 | $677.29 |
| 4 doses of 15mg of 60mg/2.4ml | 1 kwikpen | $677.29 | $677.29 |
Typical dosage for Zepbound (tirzepatide)
Zepbound (tirzepatide) is injected under the skin once a week.
- Weeks 1 to 4: The typical starting dose is 2.5 mg injected once a week.
- Weeks 5 to 8: The typical dose is 5 mg injected once a week.
- Weeks 9 and beyond: Depending on what you're using the medication for and how well it's working for you, your prescriber might raise your dose. Your dose is raised by no more than 2.5 mg each time. Dose adjustments are made at least 4 weeks apart.
- For weight loss: The recommended maintenance dose is 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg injected once a week.
- For sleep apnea: The recommended maintenance dose is 10 mg or 15 mg injected once a week.
The maximum dose is 15 mg injected once a week.
More on Zepbound (tirzepatide) dosage
How much does Zepbound (tirzepatide) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Zepbound (brand)
$25.00
Zepbound (tirzepatide) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Zepbound (tirzepatide) will not be safe for you to take.
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC)
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- Allergy to Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
What are alternatives to Zepbound (tirzepatide)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Zepbound (tirzepatide). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
News about Zepbound (tirzepatide)
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Live Updates: Tracking Insurance Coverage for GIP and GLP-1 Agonists Like Zepbound and Wegovy
Despite high demand, insurance coverage for GIP and GLP-1 agonists like Zepbound and Ozempic remains restrictive in 2025.
GLP-1 Maintenance: What You Need to Know
A GLP-1 maintenance dose is recommended after reaching your goal weight. A lower dose can help prevent weight gain and ensure healthy long-term results.
Zepbound (Tirzepatide) Dosages for Weight Loss and Sleep Apnea: Your GoodRx Guide
Zepbound (tirzepatide) is an injection used for weight loss in adults. Dosages start at 2.5 mg per week. Learn about tirzepatide dosages for weight loss.
How to Store Zepbound: 6 Storage and Traveling Tips
How should you store Zepbound (tirzepatide)? It’s best to store Zepbound in the refrigerator, but it can stay at room temperature for up to 21 days.
How to Inject Zepbound in 5 Easy Steps (Plus, Where to Inject It)
Learn how to safely administer Zepbound (tirzepatide) injections with our step-by-step guide. Maximize effectiveness and avoid risks with expert tips and tricks.
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Supplements to consider with Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications include vitamins A, D, and E. Learn more about other supplements to consider with these medications.
Zepbound (tirzepatide) images
