Active ingredient
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide produces ~22.5% mean weight loss at 72 weeks (SURMOUNT-1) at the 15 mg dose — the class-leading effect size in 2026. SURPASS-2 head-to-head against semaglutide 1 mg showed tirzepatide superior at all three doses.
Brand names + indications
Tirzepatide is sold under 2 brand names, each with its own indication + maximum dose.
How it works
Tirzepatide is a dual agonist of both glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 receptors. Activating both gut-hormone receptors produces larger weight-loss + glycemic effects than GLP-1-only agents.
Pivotal trial efficacy
−22.5%
Mean weight loss
The pivotal phase-3 trial for Tirzepatide is SURMOUNT-1, which showed mean body-weight reduction at the maintenance dose.
More on Tirzepatide
People also ask
Common questions readers ask
- Can you drink alcohol on Wegovy?
- No hard contraindication, but alcohol tolerance often drops sharply on GLP-1. Many patients also report reduced desire for alcohol — likely a secondary effect of GLP-1 on the brain reward system. Full evidence-graded answer
- Does GLP-1 affect oral birth control?
- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) has documented reduced absorption of oral contraceptives during the first 4 weeks of each dose increase. Use backup contraception for ~4 weeks after starting + after each step-up. Semaglutide has no documented effect. Full evidence-graded answer
- Can I take GLP-1 while pregnant?
- No. All FDA-approved GLP-1s carry a pregnancy contraindication. Stop GLP-1 at least 2 months before planned conception due to its long half-life. Full evidence-graded answer
- Is it safe to take GLP-1 long-term?
- Liraglutide has 15+ years of post-marketing data (Victoza approved 2010). Semaglutide has 8+ years (Ozempic approved 2017). No new class-wide safety signals have emerged in extended follow-up. Chronic use is the FDA-approved indication for both T2D and obesity. Full evidence-graded answer
- Do I need to exercise on Wegovy?
- Yes — resistance training specifically. Without it, 25-40% of weight lost on GLP-1 comes from lean muscle. Cardio is a bonus; resistance is the non-negotiable. Full evidence-graded answer