What is Zepbound?
Zepbound is a weight loss treatment that contains tirzepatide, a prescription-only medication that can be used for 2 conditions: weight loss and type 2 diabetes. It comes in the form of an injectable pen, containing 4 doses you inject yourself once per week at around the same time.
Zepbound is only prescribed for weight loss and is the brand name for tirzepatide . It’s manufactured by the same company that makes Mounjaro, called Eli Lilly.
How does Zepbound work?
Zepbound’s active ingredient, tirzepatide, mimics 2 hormones that are usually released after eating, called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).
These are both a type of incretin hormone, working in 3 main ways:
- Slowing down the rate at which you digest food to keep you feeling full for longer.
- Signalling to your brain that you’re full, lowering appetite.
- Regulating blood sugar by increasing insulin levels.
As tirzepatide mimics these hormones, the same receptors in your body are triggered, tricking your body into carrying out the same actions. When you take Zepbound (or Mounjaro) week after week, you should notice you feel less hungry, can eat less, and feel full after eating and between meals. If you also have conditions like prediabetes, it could help to improve your blood sugar levels and reduce cravings caused by spiking sugar levels.
Zepbound dosage schedule
Zepbound is prescribed at the lowest dose of tirzepatide: 2.5mg for 4 weeks. You’ll then increase the dosage every 4 weeks, although you can choose to stay on a lower dose for longer if you need more time to get used to the treatment, or if it’s working well for you at a lower dose.
