Tirzepatide is a novel medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This medication also demonstrates efficacy in weight loss, leading to its off-label use for obesity treatment. Tirzepatide is a dual agonist for the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors. The drug leads to significantly improved glycemic control and weight reduction in patients with T2DM, maximizing benefits similar to GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide.
Key Information
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- Mechanism of Action: Tirzepatide is a first-in-class dual agonist for two natural gut hormones: glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors. It helps manage blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin release, reducing the amount of sugar produced by the liver, and slowing digestion. For weight loss, it suppresses appetite, increases feelings of fullness, and may reduce food cravings.
- Administration:
It is administered as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.
- Dosage: The initial dosage is 2.5 mg once weekly, which is escalated gradually based on tolerability and efficacy. The maximum recommended dose is 15 mg once weekly.
- Efficacy: Clinical trials have shown significant reductions in HbA1c levels for diabetes patients and substantial weight loss for individuals with obesity.
- Common Side Effects: The most common side effects are gastrointestinal in nature, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, constipation, and abdominal pain.
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