Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice. All statements are merely the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to pharmaceutical medication.
Zepbound is an injectable medication that's FDA-approved for weight loss. The manufacturer's official website suggests that Zepbound helps users "Lose Weight And Keep It Off."
The generic form of Zepbound is called tirzepatide, and we'll use these terms interchangably throughout this article, because they refer to the same active drug ingredient.
But is Zepbound proven in clinical studies to cause weight loss? And if so, how much weight loss is possible? Does the drug cause side effects? And is a cheaper generic available?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze research studies on Zepbound to determine whether or not the drug is effective for weight loss.
We'll also compare the drug's efficacy to other popular weight loss medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro, discuss the risk of side effects, and document which dose is proven to have the greatest effects.
Key takeaways:
- Clinically proven to cause significant weight loss (up to 15%)
- Can cause severe side effects in rare cases
- Generic version currently not available in the US
Does Zepbound Cause Weight Loss?
Zepbound has been studied in many clinical trials for its effects on weight.
A 2022 clinical trial on obese individuals found that after 72 weeks of use, Zepbound caused an average body weight loss of 15%.
This equates to 45 pounds of weight loss for an individual with a baseline weight of 300 pounds.
Zepbound is also effective in individuals who have already lost weight through lifestyle changes.
A clinical trial on overweight and obese individuals published in the Nature Portfolio journal concluded:
Zepbound "provided substantial additional reduction in body weight in participants who had achieved ≥5.0% weight reduction with intensive lifestyle intervention."
Based on the available research, we consider Zepbound use likely to result in weight loss in overweight and obese individuals, which is unsurprising given that the drug is FDA-approved for those indications.
Zepbound vs. the Competition
Wegovy and Mounjaro are two of the most commonly-prescribed injectable weight loss drugs.
A comparative study published in the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism journal reported that Zepbound was more effective than Wegovy for weight loss.
As we documented in our does Mounjaro cause weight loss article, Mounjaro contains the same active drug ingredient, at the same doses, as Zepbound.
Therefore, we consider Mounjaro and Zepbound equally likely to be effective.
Based on the available research we could locate, we would recommend that patients interested in pharmaceutical weight loss treatments speak with their doctor about Zepbound or Mounjaro rather than Wegovy.
Does Zepbound Cause Side Effects?
Zepbound has the potential to cause side effects.
The drug's FDA label contains a "black box" warning indicating that the medication causes thyroid tumors in rats, and it's unknown whether or not the same effect may occur in humans.
A 2023 medical review documented that higher doses of Zepbound were associated with greater risk of side effects.
Mild side effects such as nausea and vomiting were common, although the drug also caused death in rare (<1%) cases, for reasons such as severe hypoglycemia and pancreatitis.
What Does Zepbound Cost?
We typically recommend that patients speak with their doctor about the generic version of drugs, because as we discussed in our orlistat reviews article, clinical research has shown generics to be equally effective to brand-name drugs.
However, at the time of publishing this article, there doesn't appear to be a generic version of Zepbound available in the US because of how recently the drug was approved by the FDA.
The retail price of Zepbound is currently around $995 for four doses according to GoodRx.
The drug manufacturer's website has a Savings Page that claims to help patients spend as little as $25 if they qualify.
What Zepbound Doses are Proven to Work?
According to the manufacturer's website, Zepbound is available at two doses: 12.5 milligrams (mg) and 15 mg.
A 2023 comparative study found that the 15 mg dose was more effective for weight reduction, blood sugar reduction and fasting glucose reduction in diabetics.
Surprisingly, there was not a significant increase in serious side effects between a 10 mg dose and a 15 mg dose.
A 2024 medical review documents that the 15 mg dose is prescribed as a once-weekly injection.
Based on the available information, we would recommend that patients considering Zepbound speak with their doctor about the 15 mg dose, to see if it's appropriate for their individual circumstance.
Our Clean Weight Loss Picks
Ceylon cinnamon was described as "an effective anti-obesity agent" in a 2022 meta-analysis. The study authors concluded that effects were greater at doses at or over 3 grams daily.
Illuminate Labs Ceylon Cinnamon Extract is our standardized Ceylon cinnamon supplement which is third-party tested to ensure purity and potency.
Dietary fiber was shown in a medical review published in The Journal of Nutrition to cause 16 pounds of weight loss in 6 months when combined with moderate caloric restriction (750 calories per day below baseline).
MBG Organic Fiber Potency+ is our top fiber pick because it's certified organic, provides 7 g of fiber per serving and costs under $1.85 per serving at the time of updating this article.
Both of the products mentioned in this section are free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
We are not suggesting that the products referenced in this section are as effective as Zepbound, or any other FDA-approved medication. Rather, we're sharing options that patients who prefer not to take a prescription medication can discuss with their doctor.
