Madeleine Hull
The latest weight loss drug to be approved by the FDA is called Zepbound. It is an injectable medication, not a pill, and is designed to help people with obesity or who are overweight with at least one weight-related condition. Other weight loss pills are in clinical trials, such as oral semaglutide, orfoglipron, and amycretin.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Zepbound |
| Dosage | 5, 10, and 15 milligrams |
| Administration | Injection |
| Frequency | Once a week |
| Availability | By the end of 2023 |
| Cost | $1,060 |
| Side Effects | Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, indigestion, injection-site reactions |
| Effectiveness | Average weight loss of 18% for non-diabetic patients on the highest dose |
| Manufacturer | Eli Lilly |
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What You'll Learn
Zepbound: a once-weekly injectable medication
Zepbound is a once-weekly injectable medication for chronic weight management. It is FDA-approved for use in adults with obesity or overweightness with at least one weight-related condition. It should be used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Zepbound is the brand name for tirzepatide, a single compound with actions on two types of receptors. It activates the receptors of hormones secreted from the intestine, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), to reduce appetite and food intake. GLP-1 tells the brain when the body is full, and GIP is stimulated when we eat and has effects in the brain as well as in fat tissue. This dual-agonist approach has been found to be more effective than targeting just one hormone pathway.
Zepbound comes in three doses: 5, 10, and 15 milligrams. The dosage must be increased over four to 20 weeks to achieve the target dosage of 15 milligrams once weekly. This slow ramp-up is important to reduce the risk of severe problems, with the schedule adapted to the patient's tolerance of the medication. The average weight loss for non-diabetic study subjects using the 15-milligram dose once a week was 18%.
Zepbound and other weight loss drugs are extremely expensive, with a list price of around $1,060, and most insurance companies do not cover them. However, experts hope that increased competition among drug makers will drive down costs and improve patient access.
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Side effects: nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, and more
As of October 2024, there are 11 medications that are FDA-approved as weight-loss treatments. One of the newest weight-loss drugs is called Zepbound, which is not a pill but an injectable medication. It is a dual-agonist drug that activates important hormone pathways in the body, specifically the GLP-1 and GIP receptors. By stimulating these receptors, Zepbound makes patients feel full on less food and slows down the movement of food through the digestive tract.
Zepbound and other weight-loss drugs often come with side effects. The most common side effects (incidence ≥ 5%) of Zepbound include nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, stomach-area pain, heartburn, injection-site reactions, sleepiness, allergic reactions, burping, hair loss, and acid reflux disease. These side effects are common in the beginning and usually subside as the patient reaches their final maintenance dose.
Stomach side effects are the most common reason for patients to stop treatment. Nausea, for example, occurs in about 44% of people taking semaglutide, another weight-loss drug, followed by diarrhoea (30%), vomiting (24%), and constipation (24%). Other gastrointestinal issues include upset stomach, bloating, gas, and soft stools.
Other weight-loss drugs may have additional side effects. Liraglutide (Saxenda), for instance, may cause decreased appetite, dyspepsia, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain, increased lipase, renal insufficiency, and increased heart rate. Bupropion and naltrexone (Contrave), diet pills that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, have been linked to headaches, dry mouth, and dizziness. Stimulant-type drugs like phentermine (Adipex-P) can lead to insomnia, increased blood pressure, a fast heart rate, restlessness, drug dependence, abuse, and withdrawal symptoms.
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Cost: over $1,000 per month
Weight loss drugs are notoriously expensive, with a typical price of over $1,000 per month. For example, Zepbound, a new weight-loss drug, has a list price of over $1,000 per month, and most health insurance companies do not cover it. Eli Lilly's weight loss pill, orforglipron, is also expected to be priced at under $1,000 per month.
Zepbound is an injectable medication, not a pill, that patients need to use once a week. It comes in three doses: 5, 10, and 15 milligrams. During clinical trials, study volunteers who used Zepbound lost as much as 21% of their body weight. The average weight loss for subjects who did not have diabetes and used the largest dose of Zepbound (15mg, once a week) was 18%.
Eli Lilly's orforglipron pill is still undergoing clinical trials and has not yet been approved for sale. The clinical trial studied more than 500 people with Type 2 diabetes who took orforglipron or a placebo for nearly 10 months. Patients on the highest dose of orforglipron lost an average of 16 pounds, or nearly 8% of their body weight. The side effects observed in the clinical trial were diarrhea, indigestion, constipation, nausea, and vomiting, which are common with injectable drugs as well.
The high cost of weight loss drugs is a significant concern for many people, especially those without insurance. The prospect of lifelong use is also troubling, as obesity is increasingly considered a chronic condition. It is hoped that increased competition among drug makers will drive down the costs of these medications and make them more accessible to those who need them.
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Availability: shortages due to high demand
Zepbound, the newest weight-loss drug to be approved by the FDA, has proven highly effective in clinical trials. It is an injectable medication, not a pill, and is administered once a week. The drug has shown remarkable results, with patients losing up to 21% of their body weight.
Due to the high demand for Zepbound, there have been shortages, which is frustrating for patients and doctors and can impact treatment progress. The drug's manufacturer has set a high list price of around $1,060, and most insurance companies do not cover it. This has led to the emergence of generic or compounded versions, which are cheaper and more accessible, but these are not regulated and may not be safe.
Zepbound is a dual-agonist drug, stimulating the hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). These hormones signal to the brain that the body is full and slow the movement of food through the digestive tract, reducing appetite and food intake.
Zepbound is intended for patients with a BMI of 30 or above, or between 27 and 30 if they have significant comorbid conditions. It should be used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The dosage is gradually increased over four to 20 weeks to reach the target dosage of 5, 10, or 15 milligrams once weekly.
While Zepbound has shown impressive results, it is not a quick fix. It should be used as a long-term treatment option, and lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating and exercise, are critical to its effectiveness.
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Alternatives: Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and more
Ozempic is not approved for weight loss but is sometimes prescribed off-label to help people without diabetes lose weight. There are a few alternatives with similar functions that are approved for weight loss.
Wegovy
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a higher-dose version of Ozempic that is approved for weight loss in adults and adolescents ages 12 and older. It is administered via weekly injections.
Zepbound
Zepbound (tirzepatide) is an FDA-approved weekly injectable medication for weight loss. It is also indicated for the treatment of obstructive sleep. The highest dose of Zepbound in clinical trials resulted in an average weight loss of 20.9% of the starting weight.
Saxenda
Saxenda (liraglutide) is another FDA-approved medication for weight loss. It is administered via daily injections.
Mounjaro
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer once-weekly injectable medication for Type 2 diabetes. It has been shown to result in greater weight loss compared to Ozempic. However, it has not been approved for the same cardiovascular benefits.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several new diet pills in development, including oral semaglutide, orforglipron, and amycretin. However, the new weight-loss drug that has been making headlines is called Zepbound.
Zepbound is the brand name for tirzepatide, a weight-loss medication. It is administered via injection once a week and comes in three doses: 5, 10, and 15 milligrams.
Zepbound is a dual-agonist drug, stimulating the hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). These hormones help control blood sugar levels and reduce appetite, triggering weight loss.
The most common side effects experienced by clinical trial participants were nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, indigestion, injection-site reactions, and other gastrointestinal issues.
