After you pick up Zepbound (tirzepatide) at the pharmacy, you can start your weekly Zepbound routine.
Zepbound can be injected at home, with or without food, once a week at any time of the day
Your healthcare provider can help you choose the injection site that is best for you. You or another person can inject the medicine under your skin in your stomach or thigh. Another person should give you the injection in the back of your upper arm.
Read the Instructions for Use included with your pen.
Video guide to your Zepbound pen.
How to use your pens
After you inspect your pen, follow these 4 steps to use Zepbound
You don't have to mix Zepbound. And you don't have to see the needle. Follow the below steps to use your Zepbound pen*:
*These 4 steps are not the complete instructions for using Zepbound. Before starting Zepbound, your healthcare provider should show you how to use the Zepbound pen. Always inspect your pen prior to injection and read the full Instructions for Use included with your Zepbound pen or watch how to use the Zepbound pen at www.zepbound.lilly.com.
1. Choose your injection site.†
†Your healthcare provider can help you choose the injection site that is best for you. You or another person can inject the medicine in your stomach or thigh. Another person should give you the injection in the back of your upper arm.
2. Pull off the gray base cap while the pen is locked
3. Place the clear base flat on your skin, then unlock.
4. Press and hold the button for up to 10 seconds. Listen for the first click. It means the injection has started. When you hear the second click, the injection is complete.
Even if you don't feel a poke, if you hear 2 clicks, the injection is complete. You will know your injection is complete when the gray plunger is visible.
Life happens and schedules change. So, if you want to change the day of the week you take your Zepbound dose, make sure there are at least 3 days (72 hours) between doses.
If you miss a dose of Zepbound, take it as soon as possible—within 4 days (96 hours) of your scheduled dosing. If more than 4 days have passed, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on your regularly scheduled day. Do not take 2 doses of Zepbound within 3 days (72 hours) of each other.
Store your pen in the refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
You may store your pen at room temperature up to 86°F (30°C) for up to 21 days. If you store the pen at room temperature, do not return the pen to the refrigerator.
Discard the pen if not used within 21 days after removing from the refrigerator.
Do not freeze your pen. If the pen has been frozen, throw the pen away and use a new pen.
Store your pen in the original carton to protect your pen from light.
The pen has glass parts. Handle it carefully. If you drop the pen on a hard surface, do not use it. Use a new pen for your injection.
Keep your Zepbound pen and all medicines out of the reach of children.
Properly dispose of your used Zepbound pens
It is important to dispose of your used pen safely. To do this, put your used pen in an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container right away after use. Do not throw away pens in household trash. If you don't have an FDA-cleared sharps container, use a household container. Make sure it is made of heavy-duty plastic; can be closed with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, without sharps being able to come out; and it is upright, stable during use, leak-resistant, and properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste.
Keep your Zepbound pen and all medicines out of the reach of children. Do not recycle your sharps container. Follow your community guidelines for the right way to dispose of your sharps disposal container. For more information about safe sharps disposal, go to the FDA’s website at http://www.fda.gov/safesharpsdisposal.
‡Make sure these bottles are cleaned, emptied, and labeled before use.
Zepbound dosing has to be increased gradually over time
You’ll begin treatment at a recommended 2.5 mg starting dose.* After 4 weeks, your doctor will increase your dose to 5 mg. After another 4 weeks, your doctor may keep you at the 5 mg dose or, if needed, increase the dosage in 2.5 mg increments after at least 4 weeks on the current dose.†
Keep up with your plan: You’ll work with your doctor to follow this step-by-step dosing process to see what dose works best for you.
The Zepbound vial is available in the 2.5-mg and 5-mg doses. The Zepbound pen is available in the 2.5-mg, 5-mg, 7.5-mg, 10-mg, 12.5-mg, and 15-mg doses.
*2.5-mg is the starting dose and is not intended for chronic weight management. The recommended maintenance doses are 5-mg, 10-mg, or 15-mg.
† The maximum dose is 15-mg injected under the skin (subcutaneously) once weekly.
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The starting dose is 2.5 mg once weekly. After 4 weeks, dose will be increased to 5 mg. Your dose can be increased in 2.5-mg increments after at least 4 weeks on the current dose. The maximum dosage is 15 mg once weekly.
Talk to your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.
Everyone can have a different experience, but the most common side effects reported by people taking Zepbound were:
Nausea
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Constipation
Stomach (abdominal) pain
Indigestion
Injection site reactions
Fatigue
Allergic reactions
Belching
Hair loss
Heartburn
In studies, most nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting occurred when people increased their dose—but the effects generally decreased over time.
In studies, gastrointestinal (GI) side effects were more common in people taking Zepbound than people taking placebo, and people taking Zepbound were more likely to stop treatment because of these side effects.
Select Safety Information
Severe stomach problems. Stomach problems, sometimes severe, have been reported in people who use Zepbound. Tell your healthcare provider if you have stomach problems that are severe or will not go away.
Kidney problems (kidney failure). Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration.
Tips that may help with nausea
If you experience nausea, talk to your doctor. In the meantime, it may help to:
Eat smaller meals—try splitting 3 daily meals into 4 or more smaller ones
Stop eating when you feel full
Avoid fatty foods like butter or cheese
Try eating bland foods like toast, crackers, or rice