Zepbound™
Once-weekly medical weight loss support for adults with obesity, or overweight with weight-related health concerns. Schedule Consultation
What is Zepbound™?
Zepbound® is a once-weekly prescription injection used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to help qualifying adults lose excess body weight and keep it off. At Houston Medical Wellness, we use a medically supervised approach to help determine whether Zepbound may be appropriate based on your goals, medical history, current medications, and long-term plan.
How Zepbound™ Works
Zepbound works through GLP-1 and GIP pathways involved in appetite and food intake. Many patients are interested in Zepbound because it is not a stimulant, is taken once weekly, and has shown meaningful weight loss results in clinical studies when used with lifestyle support. In official labeling, average weight change at 72 weeks reached about 15.0%, 19.5%, and 20.9% in one major trial across the 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg groups.
Who May Qualify?
You may be a candidate if you are an adult with obesity, or an adult with overweight plus at least one weight-related medical condition. Your provider should also review contraindications, prior treatment history, tolerability concerns, and whether another medication may be a better fit.
What to Expect?
Treatment usually starts at a lower weekly dose and is gradually increased over time to improve tolerability. Zepbound is started at 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, then increased to 5 mg; higher steps may be used based on response and tolerability, up to 15 mg once weekly.
Why Patients Ask About Zepbound
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Important Safety Summary
Zepbound should not be used with other tirzepatide-containing products or GLP-1 receptor agonists. It carries a warning regarding thyroid C-cell tumors and should not be used in patients with personal or family history of MTC or MEN 2. Key warnings also include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, hypoglycemia, kidney injury, hypersensitivity, and possible increases in heart rate.
Zepbound FAQ
What is Zepbound used for?
Is Zepbound the same as Wegovy?
No. Zepbound contains tirzepatide, while Wegovy contains semaglutide. Zepbound acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors; it should not be used with other tirzepatide-containing products or other GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Who should not take Zepbound?
Patients should not take Zepbound if they have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, have MEN 2, or have had a serious allergic reaction to tirzepatide or any Zepbound ingredient.
What are the most common side effects of Zepbound?
The most common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, indigestion, injection-site reactions, fatigue, allergic reactions, belching, hair loss, and reflux/heartburn.
Can Zepbound affect birth control pills?
Yes. Oral contraceptives may work less well after starting Zepbound and after each dose increase. Patients using oral birth control should discuss backup or non-oral contraception with their healthcare provider for 4 weeks after starting and for 4 weeks after each dose escalation.
Can Zepbound be used with insulin or sulfonylureas?
It can increase the risk of hypoglycemia when used with insulin or a sulfonylurea, so the prescribing clinician may need to adjust therapy and counsel the patient on low-blood-sugar symptoms.
Do I need to stop Zepbound before surgery?
Patients should tell all healthcare providers they are taking Zepbound before any surgery or procedure involving general anesthesia or deep sedation because GLP-1 medicines may raise the risk of aspiration.
Is Zepbound safe during pregnancy?
Weight loss is not recommended during pregnancy, and the labeling advises discontinuing Zepbound when pregnancy is recognized.
INDICATION
Zepbound™ should be used together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults.
LIMITATIONS OF USE
- you or any of your family have a history of Medulary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC)
- you have MEN 2. This is a disease where people have tumors in more than one gland in their body
- you are allergic. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, fainting or feeling dizzy, very rapid heartbeat, problems breathing or swallowing, and severe rash or itching.
Lookup your coverage or co-pay for Zepbound™
Zepbound™ Savings Information
Provide the information to look up the cost of Zepbound™ based on your prescription plan. You may need your prescription card to complete your request.
Important Safety Information
Zepbound safety page draft
What is the most important information I should know about Zepbound™?
Zepbound may cause serious side effects, including a possible risk of thyroid tumors, including cancer. Patients should contact their healthcare provider right away if they notice a lump or swelling in the neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. Zepbound is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Do not use Zepbound™ if:
- you or any family member has ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
- you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- you have had a serious allergic reaction to tirzepatide or any ingredient in Zepbound
Before using Zepbound™, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- have or have had problems with your pancreas
- have kidney problems
- have gallbladder problems
- have type 2 diabetes and a history of diabetic retinopathy
- are scheduled for surgery or a procedure involving general anesthesia or deep sedation
- are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
- take birth control pills by mouth, since Zepbound may reduce how well oral contraceptives work for 4 weeks after starting treatment and for 4 weeks after each dose increase
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take
This includes prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Zepbound can slow stomach emptying and may affect how some oral medicines are absorbed. The risk of low blood sugar may increase if Zepbound is used with insulin or a sulfonylurea.
What are the possible side effects of Zepbound™?
Zepbound may cause serious side effects, including severe stomach problems, dehydration that can contribute to kidney problems, gallbladder problems, pancreatitis, serious allergic reactions, low blood sugar when used with certain diabetes medicines, vision changes in patients with type 2 diabetes, and an increased chance of food or liquid entering the lungs during surgery or procedures involving anesthesia or deep sedation. Patients should tell all healthcare providers they are taking Zepbound before any planned procedure.
The most common side effects of Zepbound™ may include:
nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, indigestion, injection-site reactions, fatigue, allergic reactions, belching, hair loss, and heartburn/reflux.
Zepbound™ is a prescription medication.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
– All information on this page © Lilly USA, LLC 2026. All rights reserved. Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 U.S.A.
Zepbound® and its delivery device base are registered trademarks owned or licensed by Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. All other trademarks, registered or unregistered, are the property of their respective owners.