What is Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide is a once-weekly GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptor and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist. Tirzepatide is a single novel molecule that activates the body's receptors for GIP and GLP-1, which are natural incretin hormones. GIP is a hormone that may complement the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonism. GIP has been shown to decrease food intake while blunting the metabolic adaptive responses that usually occur with calorie restriction resulting in weight reductions, and when combined with GLP-1 receptor agonism, may result in greater effects on markers of metabolic dysregulation such as body weight, glucose and lipids.
Who is it for?
Tirzepatide injections are not an appropriate treatment for people who only need to lose a small amount of weight or have a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or less. It is also not appropriate for those who are looking for an “instant” or short-term weight loss fix.
How it works?!
Tirzepatide is unique because it’s the first combination of two classes of medications: a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist. Therefore, tirzepatide is known as a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist.
GLP-1 and GIP are both incretin hormones, which are hormones that are released after eating. Tirzepatide works by mimicking their effects. This includes telling the pancreas to release insulin after eating and signaling the liver to lower the amount of glucose it’s making. These effects help you feel full, slow down digestion, and lower blood sugar.
In addition to helping lower blood sugar, tirzepatide helps with weight loss in a few ways:
· It signals to the brain that you’re full — so you eat less.
· It slows the movement of food through your stomach — so you feel full longer.
Other similar injectable weight loss medications only mimic one incretin — GLP-1. It’s thought that because tirzepatide acts like two incretins, it can cause more weight loss than current alternatives.
The most common side effects are temporary and include nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain. In most cases, with the proper dosing side effects can be avoidable. A decreased appetite is also typical. Let your healthcare provider know if any side effects seem excessive or severe.
What is the dosing?
Weeks 1-4 (2.5mg) inject 1x per week subcutaneously, Weeks 5-8 (5mg) 1x per week, weeks 9-12 (7.5mg), Week 13 & on (7.5mg-10mg)
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038w
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36688833/
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our clinic.
It is important to have blood work performed prior to beginning this medication to assess liver and kidney function as well as assist in identifying any additional underlying health conditions.
