What Is Zepbound?
Zepbound is the brand name for the prescription medication tirzepatide, and this same medication is also distributed under the brand name Mounjaro. Both are administered via weekly injection, but the dosage schedule is different for each because Zepbound is used in stronger doses to help with weight management, and Mounjaro in lower doses to regulate blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.
How Does Zepbound Work For Weight Loss?
Tirzepatide (the active ingredient in these medications) mimics two of the hormones that are naturally made by your body and triggered when you eat. These two hormones are called peptides and are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). They help control how efficiently your metabolism works by keeping your blood sugar levels balanced, regulating your hunger and fullness cues, and helping you feel satisfied after eating and between meals by regulating your appetite.
Medications like Zepbound can help optimize your metabolism so it does its job in high-performance mode and works to:
- Help you feel full faster, so you eat less.
- Effectively regulate your blood sugar and improve the release of insulin.
- Slow down how fast food leaves your stomach, keeping you satisfied longer.
- Stop “food noise” and cravings, which makes it easier for you to stick to eating a low-calorie diet plan.
Because it mimics two hormones (GLP-1 and GIP), Zepbound often leads to more weight loss than medications that only target one hormone (GLP-1), such as semaglutide (Wegovy).
How Soon Does Zepbound “Start Working”?
You will not experience weight loss immediately after you administer your first injection, but tirzepatide does start working in your body right away. It begins to work with your metabolism behind the scenes to basically fix or enhance the functions that are not working as they should.
Because the medication works with your natural hormones, many people experience common side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or other digestive system issues. It takes a while for your body to get used to the medication, but these side effects normally go away on their own. It is important to know that each time your dose is increased, you may have to go through another adjustment period.
The medication reaches its peak level in your body sometime between 8 and 72 hours after injection, and this varies widely because everyone’s body is different. It is important to stay consistent with taking your injections on the same day each week and as close to the same time of day to ensure the medication levels remain constant in your body.
Many people begin to notice weight loss after about 4 weeks, but it is normal to only lose a few pounds during your first few months. Also, those who are implementing healthy lifestyle habits (eating a low-calorie diet, getting plenty of exercise, and avoiding unhealthy foods, etc.) in addition to using Zepbound will lose more weight, and will start losing weight faster on Zepbound.
How Long Does It Take For Zepbound To Work?
If you have been wondering when you will start to lose weight on Zepbound, here is a short overview of the average timeline:
Weeks 1–4
As the medication builds up in your body, you will notice that your appetite starts to decrease and you are no longer experiencing food cravings or getting hungry between meals. You might see a small loss in weight, which for many people is less than 5 pounds. There is no need to worry, because this is normal and the medication is in there doing its job behind the scenes. It is important that you do your part so you can successfully reach sustainable weight loss.
Weeks 5–12
Your injection dose will normally be increased at this point, as long as you have been handling it well and have not had severe side effects. Many users lose between 5 and 10 pounds by the time they reach week 8, and by week 12 many have successfully lost 10 to 15 percent of their starting weight, which would be 20 or 30 pounds for someone who started their weight loss journey at 200 pounds.
Months 3–6
Your dose has probably been increased again, with the strength depending on how your body has been responding. This is the phase where most people experience the majority of their weight loss, with the average loss being anywhere from 15 to 30 additional pounds. Clinical studies have shown that 6 months is commonly the “peak weight loss time”, but it can continue for longer.
Months 6–12
By this time most people are taking the highest dose and have lost about 20 percent of their starting weight, which would translate to between 45 and 50 pounds for a 200-pound person.
12 Months And Beyond
Many individuals begin their maintenance phase after a year because their weight has stabilized, so their goal is to maintain their healthy BMI. The SURMOUNT-1 trial reported that most people who participated lost an average of about 21 percent of their starting weight over 72 weeks, and another study that tracked individuals over a three-year period reported that when they continued treatment, 96 percent of the users did not regain weight.
How Much Weight Can You Lose On Zepbound?
The amount of weight you can lose while taking Zepbound is going to be different for each person and depend on what changes they are making to their lifestyle. If someone is using Zepbound injections, but they do not change their eating habits and are leading a sedentary lifestyle, they are not going to experience the same weight loss success as an individual who is actively pursuing a healthy diet, avoiding unhealthy options, and getting an adequate amount of exercise.
Below is a chart that shows the average weight loss results during a 72-week trial with participants who started the trial weighing an average of about 231 pounds.
| Weekly Dose | Average Percentage Of Starting Weight Lost | Average Of Pounds Lost From Starting Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 15 % | 35 lb |
| 10 mg | 19.5 % | 44 lb |
| 15 mg | 20.9 % | 48-52 lb |
| Placebo | 3 % | 5 lb |
What Can Affect How Fast Zepbound Works?
There are certain conditions that can affect how fast you can lose weight on Zepbound, including:
- Your individual metabolism, your age, and genetics can make a difference in how your body responds to the medication and how fast you can lose weight.
- The strength of the dose makes a difference because you will experience faster weight loss when taking the stronger doses.
- Your engagement with diet and exercise, because a healthy lifestyle can improve your results, and you will lose weight more quickly.
- Your starting weight can make a significant difference in how much weight you will lose and how fast. Heavier individuals may see greater weight loss, and they see it earlier.
- Sometimes side effects like nausea or other GI issues can prevent you from increasing the strength of your medication, and slow down your weight loss progress.
- Consistency because skipping or missing doses can affect the potency of the medication, and stopping the medication early eliminates its benefits.
Where Can I Find Out More About How Much Weight I Can Lose On Zepbound?
If you are ready to take the next step and see what Zepbound could do for you, the team at MySlimMed is here to help. Their experienced professionals understand how complex the weight loss process is, how this medication works, and how to create an effective weight loss plan that is personalized just for you based on your specific needs and circumstances.
You can learn more about Zepbound and find out if it is the right choice for you by scheduling a consultation today. Let the experts at MySlimMed help you navigate the path towards lasting weight loss.
