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US brand name of Zepbound and manufacturer

Zepbound is the brand name of tirzepatide and is available in the US under the brand name Zepbound. It is manufactured by Eli Lilly.

 

 

Source: Eli Lilly

 

UK brand name of Zepbound  and manufacturer

Zepbound is the brand name of tirzepatide. Zepbound is not yet licensed in the UK, however, it is understood Eli Lilly, the manufacturer, has plans to market it in the UK at some point in 2024, subject to regulatory approval.

Is Zepbound  available in the UK on the NHS?

Zepbound is not yet licensed in the UK, therefore, Zepbound is not available on the NHS as yet.

Prescription requirement for Zepbound

Zepbound (tirzepatide) is available in an injectable Pen format in the following strengths:

• 2.5mg/0.5mL
• 5mg/0.5mL
• 7.5mg/0.5mL
• 10mg/0.5mL
• 12.5mg/0.5mL
• 15mg/0.5mL

Zepbound is a prescription medicine and requires a valid prescription.

FDA approval of Zepbound

Zepbound has received FDA approval for chronic weight management in adults with:

chronic weight management in adults with

obesity (body mass index of 30 kilograms per square meter (kg/ m2) or greater);

or overweight (body mass index of 27 kg/m2 or greater) with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol) for use, in addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.

It is not know if Zepbound can be used in people who had pancreatitis.

It is not known if Zepbound is safe and effective for use in children under 18 years of age.

When not to use Zepbound ?

There are certain precautions where Zepbound may not be suitable if:

• You are allergic to tirzepatide or ingredients found in Zepbound pen
• You have problems with your pancreas or kidney
• You have a history of diabetic retinopathy
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed
• You or you family have had medullary thyroid carcinoma – MTC
• You have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 -MEN 2
• You have severe problems with your stomach, such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems digesting food
• You are taking insulin or sulfonylureas
• You take birth control pills by mouth? These may not work as well while using Zepbound. Your healthcare provider may recommend another type of birth control when you start Zepbound or when you increase your dose
• You have type 1 diabetes

Active ingredient of Zepbound  and mechanism of action

The active ingredient in Zepbound is tirzepatide. Tirzepatide is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It is the first and only unimolecular dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist.

Both GIP and GLP-1 increase the production of insulin in your body.

It has proven to result in significant reductions in A1c levels and body weight. Zepbound works in several ways:

• It increases insulin production, but only when your blood sugar is rising—which makes the risk of low blood sugar minimal
• It decreases your liver’s production of sugar
• It slows down the speed at which your stomach empties food into your intestine. This helps manage your blood sugars after eating while also leaving you feeling full longer

Is Zepbound as effective as WEGOVY? 

Zepbound is more effective than WEGOVY (semaglutide) for weight loss. For people taking Zepbound, the weight loss can reach up to 21% compared to the weight loss that you see from WEGOVY which tops out at around 15%.

 

 

Does Zepbound  reduce cardiovascular risks?

Findings published in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension, involving 500 people whose blood pressure was monitored continuously showed that readings from the 24-hour period at the start of the study to the 24-hour period at the end of the 36-week trial period resulted in people’s systolic blood pressure decreasing by between 7 and 10 points, depending on the dosage of Zepbound administered.

Systolic blood pressure is the reading that is a predictor of heart attacks.

Can Zepbound  be used for weight loss?

Yes. Zepbound is approved by the FDA for use in chronic weight management.

Can Zepbound  Pen be shared?

No. You should not share your Zepbound pen with others, even if the needle is changed. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them through cross-contamination.

Is it safe to use compounded Zepbound ?

The manufacturer has said that they do not sell Zepbound or the active ingredient tirzepatide for compounding. Eli Lilly is the sole company that has FDA approval to market Zepbound and it is supplied in a branded box that includes a proprietary pen along with FDA-approved prescribing information. Eli Lilly cannot validate safety or effectiveness of products claiming to contain tirzepatide. Therefore, compounded Zepbound should be avoided.

Is there a shortage of Zepbound ?

Zepbound, in all strengths, is available to community pharmacies nationwide for treatment in patients with obesity.

However, while it is currently available, comments from the CEO of Eli Lilly in January 2024, suggest that the pharmaceutical company many not be able to meet market demand in 2024.

After the drug was approved in December 2023, there were 25,000 new prescriptions a week issued for Zepbound.

Forms of Zepbound

Zepbound comes as a solution in a prefilled, single-dose injection pen (requires no mixing) with the following dosage strengths:

• 2.5mg/0.5mL
• 5mg/0.5mL
• 7.5mg/0.5mL
• 10mg/0.5mL
• 12.5mg/0.5mL
• 15mg/0.5mL

Storage requirements for Zepbound

Zepbound is temperature sensitive and should be handled as follows:

• Store your Pen in the refrigerator between 2C to 8C
• You may store your Pen at room temperature below 30C for up to a total of 21 days
• Do not freeze your Pen. If the Pen has been frozen, throw the Pen away and use a new Pen
• Store your Pen in the original carton to protect your Pen from light
• The Pen has glass parts. Handle it carefully. If you drop the Pen on a hard surface, do not use it. Use a new Pen for your injection
• Keep your Zepbound Pen and all medicines out of the sight and reach of children

Dosage of Zepbound

Zepbound is given as a weekly injection under the skin (subcutaneous). It should be administered at the same time each week, at any time of the day.

Patients are initiated with the 2.5-mg dose once weekly.

After 4 weeks on the 2.5-mg dose, the physician may increase to the 5-mg dose once weekly. The physician can continue to increase the dose by 2.5-mg increments after at least 4 weeks on the current dose. The maximum dose is 15 mg once weekly.

 

Source: Eli Lilly

Even though doses change, the administration frequency will always be weekly. It is important to follow the dosage instructions provided by your healthcare provider.

Missing or changing your dosing schedule of Zepbound

If you miss a dose of Zepbound, take it as soon as possible – within 4 days (96 hours) of your scheduled dosing.  If more than 4 days have passed, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on your regularly scheduled day.  DO NOT TAKE 2 doses of Zepbound within 3 days (72 hours) of each other.

How long does it take for Zepbound  to start working?

Zepbound starts working immediately, but it might take several weeks before you begin to notice any weight loss.  Weight loss also depends on calorie intake and physical activity.

How do I use the Zepbound  Pen?

After inspecting your pen, Follow these 4 steps to use your Zepbound pen:

Step 1: Choose your injection site. Your healthcare provider can help you choose the injection site that is best for you. You or another person can inject the medicine in your stomach, thighs, or the back of your upper arms. Another person should give you the injection in the back of your upper arm.

Step 2: Pull off the base cap.

 

 

Step 3: Place the base flat on your skin, then unlock.

 

 

Step 4: Press and hold the button for up to 10 seconds. Even if you don’t feel a poke, listen for two clicks, the injection is complete. You will know your is complete when the grey plunger is visible.

 

How long can I continue using Zepbound ?

Zepbound is designed to be a long-term maintenance treatment. Zepbound is safe and effective when used as indicated for the management of obesity.

What are the common side effects of Zepbound ?

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Decreased appetite
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Indigestion
• Stomach pain
• Injection site reactions
• Hair loss
• Belching

What are the serious side effects of Zepbound ?

• Sudden inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
• Low blood sugar (hyproglycemia)
• Serious allergic reactions
• Possible risk of thyroid cancer

Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any serious side effects.

What can I do if I experience nausea when using Zepbound ?

• Consume bland, low-fat foods, like crackers, toast, rice
• Eat smaller meals–try splitting your 3 daily meals into 4 or more smaller ones
• Stop eating when you feel full
• Avoid laying down after eating
• Avoid fat or fatty foods
• Drink ice-cold drinks

What support resources are there for Zepbound ?

You can read more about support programs that exist for Zepbound at Zepbound.Lilly

What prescription assistance is available for Zepbound ?

Prescription drug prices can be confusing. Two people may pay different prices for the same drug, depending on their insurance situation. The list price of Zepbound is $1,060.00 per fill, but the amount you pay will largely depend on your prescription drug insurance plan.

Commercially insured patients may be eligible for the Zepbound Savings Card program where you can pay as little as $25 per fill.

If you are not eligible for the Zepbound Savings Program, then you may have to pay close to the list price shown above, plus any additional pharmacy charges depending on where you purchase your medicine.

If you are interested in obtaining insurance, there are resources available to help you:

• To find out if you qualify for Medicaid and for information about copayments in your state, please visit: Medicaid State Overviews
• To learn more about private individual policies via the Insurance Marketplace, please visit: the Medical Assistance Tool

For the most accurate information, talk to your insurance provider who knows the details of your plan.

Interactions with other drugs

Ozempic may interact with certain medications, including:

• Insulin (Humalog, Tresiba, Lantus, Basaglar, Fiasp)
• Sulfonylureas (Amayrl, glyburide, glipizide)
• Meglitinides (repaglinide, nateglinide)
• Birth control pills (drospirenone/estetrol, ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone, ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate)
• Ibuprofen
• Simvastatin
• Atorvastatin (Lipitor)

Sources

• Zepbound (tirzepatide) Injection for Adults with Obesity or Excess Weight