Zepbound vs Mounjaro are both injectable medications that contain the active ingredient Tirzepatide.
Tirzepatide is an injectable medication that may help adults with diabetes and/or obesity. It’s a weekly medication that targets both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors. This single molecule engages the body's receptors for GIP and GLP-1, which are hormones that play a role in regulating blood sugar and appetite. These receptors are located in areas of the brain that help control hunger. Research has demonstrated that Tirzepatide can reduce food intake and influence how the body uses fat.
It’s a weekly medication that increases both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor activity. This increased activity works at multiple levels. In the brain, this helps reduce your appetite thereby decreasing your food intake. In the pancreas, this helps increase insulin secretion which helps with blood sugar regulation, and in fat cells, it increases the breakdown of fat as well as “lipogenesis” which helps clear triglycerides (a type of cholesterol) from the circulation.
Zepbound is an FDA-approved injectable medication for adults with obesity or adults who are overweight. To be considered obese, this is someone with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater, and someone considered overweight with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater. As stated before, the main active ingredient in Zepbound is tirzepatide.
Mounjaro is an FDA-approved prescription injectable medication designed to help adults with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar (glucose) levels. As stated before, the main active ingredient is tirzepatide.
Zepbound and Mounjaro are essentially the same medication with the same active ingredient, tirzepatide. As would be expected with medications containing the same active ingredient, they work in the same way.
-In the brain, the medication works to reduce your appetite and decrease hunger
-In the pancreas, it triggers insulin secretion when food is consumed to help manage blood sugar levels
-In fat tissue: it increases fat breakdown and encourages the clearance of triglycerides from the circulation and helps reduce fat accumulation in our internal organs.
Zepbound and Mounjaro have the same active ingredient. The only difference is that Mounjaro is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound is FDA-approved for weight loss. Both medications are started at the same dose and can be steadily increased to the same maximum dose over time.
Since Zepbound and Mounjaro have the same active ingredient, they have similar side effects.
Sometimes severe stomach problems have been reported in people who use Zepbound. If severe stomach problems do not go away, *Kidney problems (kidney failure).
Due to the main common side effects like diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, this may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems. Make sure to increase your water intake to help reduce your chance of dehydration.
Symptoms of gallbladder problems may include pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of skin or eyes, or clay-colored stools.
If you are experiencing severe pain in your stomach area, stop using Zepbound and call your healthcare provider.
Serious allergic reactions may include swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, severe rash, fainting or dizziness, or very rapid heartbeat.
If you’re experiencing dizziness or light-headedness, sweating, confusion or drowsiness, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, fast heartbeat, anxiousness, mood swings, hunger, or weakness these may be signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Patients with type 2 diabetes may experience changes in vision when using Zepbound.
Please stop taking Zepbound/ Mounjaro if you experience any of the above “severe symptoms” and contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Studies have shown that the amount of weight loss that can be expected with tirzepatide, Mounjaro and Zepbound are similar across the board. Most patients experience about 15-20% weight loss after being on medication for 72 weeks.
