Tirzepatide

This information from Lexicomp^® explains what you need to know about this medication, including what it’s used for, how to take it, its side effects, and when to call your healthcare provider.

Brand Names: US

Mounjaro; Zepbound

Brand Names: Canada

Mounjaro; Mounjaro KwikPen; Zepbound KwikPen

What is this drug used for?

• It is used to help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.
• It is used to help with weight loss in certain people.
• It is used to treat sleep apnea in certain patients.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take this drug?

All products:

• If you are allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you are allergic to benzyl alcohol. Some products have benzyl alcohol.
• If you have ever had pancreatitis.
• If your stomach empties slowly or you have trouble digesting food.
• If you are using another drug that has the same drug in it.
• If you are using another drug like this one. If you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you are using this drug for diabetes:

• If you have an acidic blood problem.

Zepbound:

• If you have or have ever had depression or thoughts of suicide.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take this drug?

All products:

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this drug. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Follow the diet and exercise plan that your doctor told you about.
• Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol.
• Birth control pills may not work as well to prevent pregnancy. If you take birth control pills, you may need to switch to another type of hormone-based birth control like a vaginal ring if your doctor tells you to. If another type of hormone-based birth control is not an option, use some other kind of birth control also, like a condom. Do this for 4 weeks after starting this drug and for 4 weeks each time the dose is raised.
• This drug may prevent other drugs taken by mouth from getting into the body. If you take other drugs by mouth, you may need to take them at some other time than this drug. Talk with your doctor.
• Do not share with another person even if the needle has been changed. Sharing your tray or pen may pass infections from one person to another. This includes infections you may not know you have.
• If you cannot drink liquids by mouth or if you have upset stomach, throwing up, or diarrhea that does not go away, you need to avoid getting dehydrated. Contact your doctor to find out what to do. Dehydration may lead to low blood pressure or to new or worsening kidney problems.
• If you will be having any surgery or procedure, talk with your doctor. This drug may raise the risk of food getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sedation. You may need to stop this drug before these types of surgery or procedures.

If you are using this drug for diabetes:

• It may be harder to control blood sugar during times of stress such as fever, infection, injury, or surgery. A change in physical activity, exercise, or diet may also affect blood sugar.
• Check your blood sugar as you have been told by your doctor.
• Do not drive if your blood sugar has been low. There is a greater chance of you having a crash.
• Wear disease medical alert ID (identification).
• This drug may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant. If you are pregnant or you get pregnant while taking this drug, call your doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

If using for weight loss or sleep apnea:

• If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your blood sugar closely.
• This drug may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant. Weight loss during pregnancy may also cause harm to an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or you get pregnant while taking this drug, call your doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

All products:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of gallbladder problems like pain in the upper right belly area, right shoulder area, or between the shoulder blades; yellow skin or eyes; fever with chills; bloating; or very upset stomach or throwing up.
• Dizziness or passing out.
• A fast heartbeat.
• Change in eyesight.
• Feeling anxious or irritable.
• Slurred speech.
• Mood changes.
• Low blood sugar can happen. The chance may be raised when this drug is used with other drugs for diabetes. Signs may be dizziness, headache, feeling sleepy or weak, shaking, fast heartbeat, confusion, hunger, or sweating. Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs. Follow what you have been told to do for low blood sugar. This may include taking glucose tablets, liquid glucose, or some fruit juices.
• Severe and sometimes deadly pancreas problems (pancreatitis) have happened with this drug. Call your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain, severe back pain, or severe upset stomach or throwing up.
• Kidney problems have happened. Sometimes, these may need to be treated in the hospital or with dialysis. Tell your doctor right away if you have signs of kidney problems like being unable to pass urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain.

Zepbound:

• New or worse behavior or mood changes like depression or thoughts of suicide.

What are some other side effects of this drug?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

All products:

• Constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, upset stomach, throwing up, or decreased appetite.
• Heartburn.
• Pain, itching, or other irritation where the injection was given.

Zepbound:

• Feeling tired or weak.
• Hair loss.
• Burping.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to your national health agency.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

How is this drug best taken?

Use this drug as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

All products:

• It is given as a shot into the fatty part of the skin on the top of the thigh or the belly area.
• This drug may be given into the outer area of the upper arm if given by someone else.
• Do not give into a muscle or vein.
• If you will be giving yourself the shot, your doctor or nurse will teach you how to give the shot.
• Keep taking this drug as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.
• Take the same day each week.
• Move site where you give the shot each time.
• Do not give into skin that is thickened, or has pits or lumps.
• Do not inject through clothes. Do not give into skin that is irritated, bruised, red, scaly, hard, scarred, or damaged.
• Take with or without food.
• Wash your hands before and after use.
• Do not use if the solution is leaking or has particles.
• This drug is colorless to a faint yellow. Do not use if the solution changes color.
• Throw away needles in a needle/sharp disposal box. Do not reuse needles or other items. When the box is full, follow all local rules for getting rid of it. Talk with a doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Vials:

• It is important to have the right syringe to measure your dose. If you do not have the right syringe or you are not sure, talk with your pharmacist.
• Each vial is for 1 use only. Throw away any part of the used vial after the dose is given.

Prefilled pen:

• Do not move this drug from the pen to a syringe.
• If you drop this drug on a hard surface, do not use it.

Single-dose prefilled pen:

• Each pen is for 1 use only. Throw away any part of the used pen after the dose is given.

If you are using this drug for diabetes:

• If you are also using insulin, you may inject this drug and the insulin in the same area of the body but not right next to each other.
• Do not mix this drug in the same syringe with insulin.
• You may change the day of the week that you use this drug if needed. The time between doses of this drug must be at least 72 hours.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• If it is within 4 days after the missed dose, take the missed dose and go back to your normal day.
• If it has been more than 4 days since the missed dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal day.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

All products:

• Store in a refrigerator. Do not freeze.
• Do not use if it has been frozen.
• Protect from heat.
• Store in the original container to protect from light.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Single-dose pens and vials:

• If needed, each pen or vial may be stored at room temperature for up to 21 days. If you store at room temperature, throw away any part not used after 21 days.
• Do not put this drug back in the refrigerator after it has been stored at room temperature.

Multi-dose pens:

• If needed, you may store at room temperature for up to 30 days. Write down the date you take this drug out of the refrigerator. If stored at room temperature and not used within 30 days, throw this drug away.

General drug facts

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else’s drugs.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• This drug comes with an extra patient fact sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it with care. Read it again each time this drug is refilled. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with the doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms.

Last Reviewed Date

2025-10-21

Copyright

© 2025 UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.