Tirzepatide is a weekly injectable medication that was initially FDA approved to treat type 2 diabetes. In November of 2023 the FDA also approved tirzepatide for weight loss. It belongs to two different classes of medications: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptides (GIP). 

GLP-1 receptor agonists are not new to the market, in fact this class of medication has been intensively studied and has been on the market since 2005. Tirzepatide combines the effects of a GLP-1 and GIP medication making it the first medication of its kind.

Tirzepatide used for diabetes and weight loss are the same medication. There is no difference between them.

This medication will not cause your blood sugar to drop, and you do not need to test your blood sugar while you are on it. 

However, as with all medications, there are risks and benefits. We advise that you take the time to do your due diligence and determine if tirzepatide is right for you. We are happy to answer any questions you may have along the way.

Tirzepatide works in several ways. First, it is a powerful appetite suppressant which helps curb those pesky cravings resulting in a decrease in your total daily calorie intake. Second, it slows down how quickly your body empties your stomach leaving you feeling full longer. Lastly, it helps your body better manage, store, and use the sugars you naturally take in after a meal. Together, this combination produces impressive weight loss! Studies have shown that using tirzepatide can lead to an astounding 22.5% total body weight loss!

Tirzepatide is a once per week injection given under the skin. As you can see below, the dose is slowly increased over time to prevent or lower the severity of unwanted side effects and monitor your body’s response to the medication. 

Dosing for tirzepatide generally follows this schedule:

• Weeks 1-4 inject 2.5 mg weekly
• Weeks 5-8 inject 5 mg weekly
• Weeks 9-12 inject 7.5 mg weekly
• Weeks 13-16 inject 10 mg weekly
• Weeks 17-20 inject 12.5 mg weekly
• Weeks 21-24+ inject to 15 mg weekly

Please keep in mind that you DO NOT have to increase to the maximum dose of 15 mg. Some individuals’ weight loss goals are met at lower doses and some individuals experience unwanted side effects at higher doses. Therefore, we will work with you to tailor our program to your needs. 

The MOST COMMON side effects that people report while on this medication are:

• Constipation or diarrhea
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Low appetite
• Indigestion (heartburn)
• General feeling of malaise when increasing doses
• Tirzepatide may decrease the efficacy of oral birth control. It has NOT been shown to decrease the effectiveness of non-oral contraceptives (ie, IUD, depo provera, nexplanon, etc). Those using an oral birth control should use condoms for 4 weeks after starting tirzepatide treatment and for 4 weeks after each dose increase. 

While all medications come with the possibility of side effects, that does not necessarily mean that you will experience them. We have individuals who have not experienced a single side effect, and others who have experienced all of them. We will work with each person to minimize side effects and ensure the best possible outcome.

Once you meet your weight loss goal, you will begin to taper down to a lower maintenance dose. The maintenance dose is different for everyone. It is a dose where you are no longer continuing to lose weight but are staying steady at your goal.

You may choose to taper off the medication completely and maintain your goal weight with the lifestyle changes and tools you have learned over the course of this program. If you find yourself gaining the weight back, you may restart the medication.

We locally source our tirzepatide from a compounding pharmacy in Houston. 

A compounding pharmacy is a pharmacy that specializes in making medications that are tailored to an individual. The FDA describes them as “the process of combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to create a medication tailored to the needs of an individual patient.” The compounding pharmacy we use sources all their ingredients from a United States, federally inspected and regulated supplier. They also test their products for sterility and endotoxin prior to releasing them for dispensing.

No, we do not accept insurance. If you are a type 2 diabetic and would qualify for insurance to cover this medication, you should speak with your primary care provider and discuss whether starting a GLP-1 medication is right for you. 

We do accept health savings account/flexible spending account (HSA/FSA) cards.

Animal studies have shown that tirzepatide has the potential to cause medullary thyroid carcinoma, but it is unclear if this applies to humans. To be safe, individuals with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma should avoid using tirzepatide. The same goes for those with MEN 2 syndrome.

Patients with other risk factors for thyroid cancer should be aware of the potential risks associated with tirzepatide. Additional reasons to avoid tirzepatide include gallbladder disease and diabetic retinopathy.

If you are currently taking semaglutide or liraglutide, do not take tirzepatide. However, if you are on insulin therapy, you can start taking tirzepatide and your insulin dose will be gradually reduced to prevent low blood sugar.