Peptide library / Digestive & weight / Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide
A once-weekly dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes, obesity and sleep apnea in obesity.
Effects studied or claimed
What it is used or promoted for, and where each effect has actually been seen
- Lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetesFDA approved
- Weight loss in adults with obesity or overweightFDA approved
- Obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesityFDA approved
How it is thought to work
Tirzepatide activates two gut hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1, which together lower blood sugar, reduce appetite and slow gastric emptying.
What the evidence shows
In SURMOUNT-1, adults without diabetes lost an average of about 21 percent of body weight over 72 weeks on the 15 mg dose. Head-to-head work in type 2 diabetes showed larger weight and HbA1c reductions than semaglutide 1 mg.
Safety and unknowns
Gastrointestinal effects are the most frequent and tend to ease after dose escalation. The label carries a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents.
Regulatory status
FDA-approved as Mounjaro (2022) for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound (2023) for weight management. Sleep apnea was added in 2024.
Regulatory status changes quickly. This entry was last reviewed on 27 October 2026. Confirm current status with the FDA before relying on it.
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General information, not medical advice. Do not buy or inject unregulated peptides.