Tirzepatide is an FDA-approved peptide medication that effectively manages type 2 diabetes and promotes significant weight loss. Administered via weekly subcutaneous injections, its efficacy extends beyond glucose control to robust weight management. This dual-action medication works through its agonistic effects on two critical proteins: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which are integral in regulating blood sugar levels. Secreted by intestinal cells after eating, these hormones enhance insulin secretion, with Tirzepatide activating both GLP-1 and GIP receptors to improve glucose control. Additionally, GLP-1 and GIP are pivotal in appetite regulation within the incretin system. Tirzepatide's ability to suppress appetite, combined with its role in enhancing lipid metabolism, contributes to its effectiveness as a weight loss treatment, as evidenced in clinical trials.
The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, constipation, upper abdominal discomfort, and abdominal pain.
Tirzepatide is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of thyroid cancer or in patients with MEN 2, recurrent pancreatitis, severe renal impairment, severe gastroparesis, and in patients with known serious hypersensitivity to tirzepatide.
A subcutaneous injection is a way of administering medication in the fatty layer of tissue beneath the skin. The skin is pinched up to give the injection under the skin.
These injections are given because there is little blood flow to fatty tissue, and the injected medication is generally absorbed more slowly, sometimes over 24 hours. Several other well-known medications, such as growth hormone, insulin, epinephrine, etc., are also peptide medications like Tirzepatide, which require subcutaneous injection.