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You got this: Your once-weekly Zepbound routine

You got this: Your once-weekly Zepbound routine

  • Zepbound comes in a single-dose pen that requires no mixing. There's no need to see or handle the needle.
  • You can take it right at home, with or without food.

Zepbound may be injected in your stomach or thigh, or the back of your upper arm with another person’s help. Don’t use the exact same spot week-to-week. Ask your healthcare provider to help you choose an injection site if you are not sure.

Image of the Zepbound pen.

Prep for Zepbound

Getting started with once-weekly Zepbound injections? See how it’s done in this video.

Please also read the full Instructions for Use that come with your Zepbound pen.

Even if you don’t feel a poke, if you hear 2 clicks, the injection is complete! You will know you are done when the gray plunger is visible.

*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 scroll up to watch the How to Use Zepbound video.

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Check the authenticity of your medicine

Click the button below to check the authenticity of your medicine and see what genuine Zepbound looks like.

Check authenticity
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PRO TIP: Set a reminder on your phone so you don’t miss your weekly dose.

How to store Zepbound

  • Store the pen in its original carton to protect it from light.
  • Keep the pen in the refrigerator (at 36°F to 46°F).
  • You may also store Zepbound at room temperature (up to 86°F) for up to 21 days. Do not return the pen to the refrigerator after removing it.
  • If the pen hasn’t been used within 21 days after removing from the refrigerator, discard the pen.
  • Don’t freeze the pen. If it has been frozen, throw it away and use a new pen instead.
  • The pen has glass parts. Handle it carefully. If you drop it on a hard surface, discard it and use a new pen.
  • Keep your Zepbound pen and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Disposing after use

It’s important to dispose of used Zepbound pens safely:

  • Place your used pen in an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container after use. Don’t throw pens in the household trash.
  • If you don’t have an FDA-cleared sharps container, there are other options. You can use a heavy-duty plastic household container, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Make sure it has a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid. It must also be stable, leak-resistant, and stand upright. Don’t forget to add a label that says “Sharps” or “Biohazard” to make it clear that it’s hazardous waste.
  • Either way, keep the container out of the reach of children. Don’t recycle a sharps container. Check and follow your community’s guidelines for disposing of a sharps container.

Safe sharps containers:

  • FDA-approved sharps container icon.

    FDA-cleared sharps container

    Recommended icon.
  • Puncture-resistant detergent bottle icon.

    Detergent bottles

Make sure these bottles are cleaned, emptied, and labeled before use.

Find the dose that's right for you

With multiple options, you and your doctor can work together to find the once-weekly dose of Zepbound that fits your body's changing needs.

Zepbound dosing is increased gradually over time

  • The starting dose is 2.5 mg.
  • After 4 weeks, your doctor will increase the dose to 5 mg.
  • After at least another 4 weeks, your dose will increase by 2.5 mg increments until you find the dose that is right for you.
  • The recommended maintenance dosage for OSA is 10 mg or 15 mg once weekly.§

2.5 mg is not intended for maintenance use.
§The maximum dosage is 15 mg under the skin (subcutaneously) once weekly.

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Keep up with your plan

You’ll work with your doctor to follow this step-by-step dosing process.

What if I miss a dose or want to change my schedule?

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. Take your next dose on your regularly scheduled day. Do not take 2 doses of Zepbound within 3 days (72 hours) of each other.

If you want to change the day of the week you take Zepbound, make sure there are at least 3 days (72 hours) between doses.


Managing possible side effects

If you experience any side effects that are bothersome or persistent, talk to your doctor.

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

Side effects over time

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

Zepbound can cause serious side effects, including:

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 icon.

    Eat smaller meals—try splitting 3 daily meals into 4 or more smaller ones

  • Stop eating when full icon.

    Stop eating when you feel full

  • Avoid fatty foods icon.

    Avoid fatty foods like butter or cheese

  • Try eating bland foods icon.

    Try eating bland foods like toast, crackers, or rice

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What is OSA and what are common symptoms?

Learn about OSA

SAFETY SUMMARY WITH WARNINGS

Warning:

Warnings - Zepbound may cause tumors in the thyroid, including thyroid cancer. Watch for possible symptoms, such as a lump or swelling in the neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms, tell your healthcare provider.

  • Do not use Zepbound if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
  • Do not use Zepbound if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
  • Do not use Zepbound if you have had a serious allergic reaction to tirzepatide or any of the ingredients in Zepbound.

Zepbound may cause serious side effects, including:

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.

Gallbladder problems. Gallbladder problems have happened in some people who use Zepbound. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get symptoms of gallbladder problems, which may include pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools.

Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Zepbound and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.

Serious allergic reactions. Stop using Zepbound and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting or feeling dizzy, or very rapid heartbeat.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your risk for getting low blood sugar may be higher if you use Zepbound with medicines that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or light-headedness, sweating, confusion or drowsiness, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, mood changes, hunger, weakness or feeling jittery.

Changes in vision in patients with type 2 diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Zepbound.

Depression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to changes in your mood, behaviors, feelings or thoughts. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you.

Food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation). Zepbound may increase the chance of food getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking Zepbound before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures.

Common side effects

The most common side effects of Zepbound include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdominal) pain, indigestion, injection site reactions, feeling tired, allergic reactions, belching, hair loss, and heartburn. These are not all the possible side effects of Zepbound. Talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or doesn’t go away.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects. You can report side effects at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Before using Zepbound

  • Your healthcare provider should show you how to use Zepbound before you use it for the first time.
  • Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking medicines to treat diabetes including an insulin or sulfonylurea which could increase your risk of low blood sugar. Talk to your healthcare provider about low blood sugar levels and how to manage them.
  • If you take birth control pills by mouth, talk to your healthcare provider before you use Zepbound. Birth control pills may not work as well while using Zepbound. Your healthcare provider may recommend another type of birth control for 4 weeks after you start Zepbound and for 4 weeks after each increase in your dose of Zepbound.

Review these questions with your healthcare provider:

❑ Do you have other medical conditions, including problems with your pancreas or kidneys, or severe problems with your stomach, such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems digesting food?

❑ Do you take diabetes medicines, such as insulin or sulfonylureas?

❑ Do you have a history of diabetic retinopathy?

❑ Are you scheduled to have surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation)?

❑ Do you take any other prescription medicines or over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or herbal supplements?

❑ Are you pregnant, plan to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed? Zepbound may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while using Zepbound. It is not known if Zepbound passes into your breast milk. You should talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while using Zepbound.

  • Pregnancy Exposure Registry: There will be a pregnancy exposure registry for women who have taken Zepbound during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry, or you may contact Lilly at 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979).

How to take

  • Read the Instructions for Use that come with Zepbound.
  • Use Zepbound exactly as your healthcare provider says.
  • Use Zepbound with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
  • Zepbound is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm.
  • Use Zepbound 1 time each week, at any time of the day.
  • Change (rotate) your injection site with each weekly injection. Do not use the same site for each injection.
  • If you take too much Zepbound, call your healthcare provider, seek medical advice promptly, or contact a Poison Center expert right away at 1-800-222-1222.

Zepbound injection is approved as a 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, or 15 mg per 0.5 mL in single-dose pen or single-dose vial.

Learn more

Zepbound is a prescription medicine. For more information, call 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979).

This summary provides basic information about Zepbound but does not include all information known about this medicine. Read the information that comes with your prescription each time your prescription is filled. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about Zepbound and how to take it. Your healthcare provider is the best person to help you decide if Zepbound is right for you.

ZP CON BS 20DEC2024

Zepbound® and its delivery device base are registered trademarks owned or licensed by Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.

INDICATIONS

Zepbound® (ZEHP-bownd) is an injectable prescription medicine that may help adults with:

  • obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems to lose excess body weight and keep the weight off.
  • moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity to improve their OSA.

It should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Zepbound contains tirzepatide and should not be used with other tirzepatide-containing products or any GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if Zepbound is safe and effective for use in children.