Tirzepatide for Weight Loss
Tirzepatide is a GLP-1 agonist. That means it mimics the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1, which is responsible for regulating blood sugar.
GLP-1 agonists like Tirzepatide have shown success in supporting weight loss and healthy body composition. We’ll go over how Tirzepatide works, the evidence in support of Tirzepatide’s effects, and more.
How does Tirzepatide Work?
Tirzepatide works similarly to other GLP-1 agonists like Semaglutide and Liraglutide. It increases the production of insulin while decreasing the production of glucagon to help regular blood sugar.
Insulin is responsible for removing glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream and transporting it to the cells for energy. Glucagon is responsible for increasing blood sugar so that levels don’t dip too low.
When people gain weight and engage in unhealthy diets, they can develop insulin sensitivity, which means insulin doesn’t function as well. This can cause chronic high blood sugar, which can lead to long-term conditions like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and others.
As a GLP-1 agonist, Tirzepatide increases insulin production to lower blood sugar. It’s also been shown to slow digestion, leading to a feeling of fullness that can help curb appetite.
Tirzepatide is also a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonist. GIP is another hormone that impacts insulin production.
Due to the combined GIP and GLP-1 effects, some patients report more success with Tirzepatide than with similar medications.
What’s the Evidence for Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide has been studied for weight loss and blood sugar management.
In one study, overweight patients who were not diabetic received Tirzepatide injections once a week for six months.
Participants received either 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg doses and lost a mean average of 15% to 21% of their body weight. The control group, on the other hand, received a placebo and lost a mean average of 3% of their body weight.
Participants who received Tirzepatide also saw improvement in their cardiometabolic health.
In addition, Tirzepatide is approved under brand names for the treatment of type 2 diabetes due to its effects on insulin and blood sugar.
Tirzepatide Titration
Like other GLP-1s, Tirzepatide has to be titrated, or started at a lower dose and increased over time. This helps the body get used to the medication and minimize side effects. Tirzepatide is injected once weekly.
Here’s an example of a titration schedule for Tirzepatide. You should always follow your provider’s instructions, which may vary from this example.
- Start with a 2.5mg subcutaneous injection weekly for 4 weeks.
- After that, increase to a 5mg subcutaneous injection weekly.
- Patients may continue to increase to 7.5mg weekly for at least 4 weeks, and then may increase to 10mg weekly for at least 4 weeks.
Tirzepatide Side Effects
Like other GLP-1 agonists, Tirzepatide does have reported side effects.
The most common side effects are related to the gastrointestinal tract. Patients may experience heartburn, constipation, nausea, and in more serious cases, vomiting and diarrhea.
Defy Medical offers access to prescription medication like Zofran to help combat side effects (as appropriate). You can speak with your experienced Defy Medical provider to discuss different options for managing side effects.
Which GLP-1 Agonist is Right for You?
Tirzepatide is just one of the many GLP-1 agonists available to assist with blood sugar management and weight loss.
Other GLP-1 agonists include Semaglutide and Liraglutide, and more are likely in development as the medical industry studies and expands on these important medications.
With all the options, it can be confusing to understand which one is right for you.
Defy Medical offers extended weight management consultations where you’ll be able to discuss your options with an experienced provider. They’ll be able to guide you toward the right medication for you based on your needs, lab results, response to treatment, and more.
Tirzepatide with Defy Medical
Defy Medical offers medically guided weight loss and weight management plans. These plans often include GLP-1 agonist medications like Tirzepatide, as appropriate.
We also offer supplemental therapies and supplements that can support your weight loss and fitness goals.
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