How much weight can you lose on tirzepatide?

Clinical trials showed average weight loss of 20-22% of body weight at the highest dose over 72 weeks. Some participants lost over 25% of their starting weight.

Is tirzepatide better than semaglutide?

Head-to-head trials showed tirzepatide produced greater weight loss (21% vs 16%) and better blood sugar control than semaglutide. However, it's newer and more expensive.

What are the side effects of tirzepatide?

Common side effects include nausea (up to 33%), diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. These are typically mild to moderate and improve over time.

How much does tirzepatide cost?

Without insurance, Mounjaro and Zepbound cost approximately $1,000-1,200 per month. Compounded versions are available for $300-600 per month through telehealth providers.

What Is Tirzepatide? A Complete Guide to the Weight Loss Medication

Key takeaways

What it is: Tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, the first medication to target both hormones
Brand names: Mounjaro (diabetes), Zepbound (weight loss)
Weight loss: Clinical trials showed 20-22% body weight loss on average, the highest of any medication
How it’s taken: Once-weekly injection
vs Semaglutide: Head-to-head trials showed tirzepatide produces ~5% more weight loss

What is tirzepatide?

Tirzepatide is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It’s the first FDA-approved medication that targets both of these gut hormones simultaneously.

Developed by Eli Lilly, tirzepatide is marketed under two brand names:

Mounjaro: FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (May 2022)
Zepbound: FDA-approved for chronic weight management (November 2023)

The dual-action mechanism appears to produce greater weight loss than GLP-1-only medications like semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy).

How tirzepatide works

Unlike semaglutide which only targets GLP-1 receptors, tirzepatide activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors:

GLP-1 effects (shared with Ozempic/Wegovy)

Slows stomach emptying
Reduces appetite via brain signaling
Stimulates insulin release when blood sugar is high

GIP effects (unique to tirzepatide)

Enhances insulin secretion
May improve fat metabolism
Potentially better tolerability than GLP-1 alone

The combination appears synergistic, producing greater effects than either hormone alone.

Weight loss results

The SURMOUNT clinical trials tested tirzepatide (as Zepbound) for weight loss:

SURMOUNT-1 results (72 weeks)

Dose	Avg Weight Loss	Lost ≥20%
5 mg	15%	32%
10 mg	20%	46%
15 mg	22%	57%
Placebo	3%	2%

These are the highest weight loss results ever seen in a medication trial. More than half of participants on the highest dose lost over 20% of their body weight.

Tirzepatide vs semaglutide

The SURPASS-2 trial directly compared tirzepatide to semaglutide:

Metric	Tirzepatide 15mg	Semaglutide 1mg
Weight loss	12.4%	6.2%
HbA1c reduction	2.3%	1.9%
Nausea rate	17%	22%

Key takeaway: Tirzepatide produced about twice the weight loss with similar or fewer GI side effects.

For a detailed comparison, see our Zepbound vs Mounjaro guide.

Side effects

Side effects are similar to other GLP-1 medications but may be slightly milder:

Side Effect	Tirzepatide	Placebo
Nausea	24-33%	6%
Diarrhea	18-21%	8%
Vomiting	9-12%	2%
Constipation	11-17%	4%

Side effects are most common during dose increases and typically improve within 4-8 weeks. See our tirzepatide side effects guide for management tips.

Cost and access

List prices (without insurance)

Mounjaro: ~$1,000-1,100/month
Zepbound: ~$1,000-1,100/month
Compounded tirzepatide: $300-600/month

Savings options

Eli Lilly savings card: $25/month for eligible patients
Insurance prior authorization (coverage varies widely)
Compounded versions through telehealth providers

See our tirzepatide cost guide for detailed pricing.

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Frequently asked questions

Tirzepatide is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (as Mounjaro) and chronic weight management (as Zepbound). It’s a dual-action medication targeting both GIP and GLP-1 receptors for enhanced blood sugar control and weight loss.

Clinical trials showed average weight loss of 20-22% of body weight at the highest dose (15mg) over 72 weeks. More than half of participants on the highest dose lost over 20% of their starting weight.

Head-to-head trials showed tirzepatide produced about twice the weight loss (12% vs 6%) and better blood sugar control than semaglutide. However, tirzepatide is newer, more expensive, and has less long-term data.

Common side effects include nausea (24-33%), diarrhea (18-21%), vomiting, and constipation. These are typically mild to moderate and improve over time as your body adjusts.

Without insurance, Mounjaro and Zepbound cost approximately $1,000-1,100 per month. Compounded versions are available for $300-600 per month through telehealth providers.

The bottom line

Tirzepatide represents a significant advancement in weight loss medications, producing the highest results seen in clinical trials. The dual GIP/GLP-1 mechanism appears to offer advantages over GLP-1-only medications like semaglutide.

The main considerations are cost and availability. It’s newer and more expensive than semaglutide, and insurance coverage is still limited for weight loss use.

References

1. Jastreboff AM, et al. (2022). Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. NEJM.

2. FDA. Zepbound (tirzepatide) Prescribing Information. 2023.

Our commitment to accuracy: This article was reviewed by a board-certified physician and is based on peer-reviewed clinical research. Read our editorial policy.