Weight loss is critical for decreasing cardiovascular mortality and for controlling obesity-related complications like obstructive sleep apnea. Traditional weight management approaches rely on lifestyle changes consisting solely of a reduced-calorie diet and exercise. Although this approach results in weight loss and associated health improvements, less than 20 percent of individuals lose more than 15 percent of their original weight. The weight loss also doesn’t last long, with some patients regaining up to one-third of their weight in the first year after target weight is reached.
New medications including semaglutide and tirzepatide help patients lose weight by decreasing their energy intake. Although we offer both compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, there are some differences between the two options. Some studies have shown that tirzepatide provides greater weight loss than semaglutide, so if patients are not seeing the weight loss they want, have too many side effects or if they’ve plateaued, prescribers may consider tirzepatide.
Weight Loss Using Tirzepatide
In the clinical trial leading to its FDA approval for weight loss (the SURMOUNT trial), 15 mg tirzepatide, along with monthly lifestyle counseling, helped non-diabetic patients struggling with obesity or being overweight lose almost 21 percent of their original weight after 72 weeks of treatment. This was significantly higher than patients receiving a placebo, who lost only 3.1 percent of their original weight.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs found that, when compared to semaglutide, tirzepatide resulted in greater body weight reductions of 9.57 kg (using 15 mg of tirzepatide) and 5.27 kg (using 5 mg tirzepatide).1 Semaglutide had a less pronounced effect, with reductions ranging from 4.97 kg (semaglutide 2.0 mg) to 2.52 kg (semaglutide 0.5 mg). Tirzepatide 15 mg, 10 mg, and 5 mg showed greater efficacy than semaglutide 2.0 mg, 1.0 mg, and 0.5 mg, respectively.
Switching from Semaglutide to Tirzepatide
Directly switching from semaglutide or another GLP-1 receptor agonist to tirzepatide is possible according to a prospective study from Northwestern University.2 When making the switch from 0.5–1.0 mg semaglutide to 5 mg tirzepatide, patients experienced greater weight loss, with a decrease of 2.15 percent for those on tirzepatide versus 1.79 percent for those on semaglutide after 12 weeks.
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The study also showed that patients could make the switch from semaglutide to tirzepatide fairly directly, and the amount of time before switching to tirzepatide did not exceed 10 days. Switching medications was well tolerated, with about 13 percent of patients reporting mild gastrointestinal adverse events during the 12-week study, in line with similar retrospective studies.
Mild to Moderate Side Effects
Tirzepatide usually only causes mild to moderate gastrointestinal side effects, similar to semaglutide, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. The package insert for Mounjaro® also contains a black box warning for thyroid tumors, but Mounjaro® also contains a second warning for patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.
Other Indications
Tirzepatide has been approved for both diabetes management and weight loss, under the brand names Mounjaro® and Zepbound® respectively. As with semaglutide, the indications for tirzepatide are continuing to expand as clinical trials are completed and reviewed by the FDA. In fact, just recently, in December 2024, the FDA approved tirzepatide to treat obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.
Compounded Tirzepatide from VLS Pharmacy and New Drug Loft
We now offer both tirzepatide and semaglutide via injections. The addition of compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide ensures that we provide innovative, evidence-based solutions for weight management and overall metabolic health. With our FDA-approved compounding facilities, third-party testing, and tailored delivery methods, these therapies offer various options for patients seeking personalized and effective treatments.
Because the best choice for individual patients depends on their individual health conditions, goals, and tolerability for various side effects, compounding pharmacies like VLS Pharmacy and New Drug Loft are here to ensure that each individual patient receives the exact medication they need in the optimal administration route.
As part of our efforts to ensure patient safety, we compound all of our formulations using high-quality pharmaceutical-grade APIs sourced directly from PCCA, the leader of superior-quality APIs. Our pharmacists and technicians tailor each formulation to meet a patient’s specific needs, including the dose and administration route. As a 503A pharmacy specializing in sterile and non-sterile compounding, we will support you and your patients by creating individualized pharmaceutical therapies.
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Reach out to our team to learn about best practices and to partner with our experts on custom compounded medications for your patients. All medications from VLS Pharmacy and New Drug Loft are prepared in a lab that follows safety and quality standards per our status as a 503A pharmacy.
References
- Karagiannis T, Malandris K, Avgerinos I, et al. Subcutaneously administered tirzepatide vs semaglutide for adults with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Diabetologia. 2024;67(7):1206-1222. doi:10.1007/s00125-024-06144-1
- Jabbour S, Paik JS, Aleppo G, Sharma P, Gomez Valderas E, Benneyworth BD. Switching to Tirzepatide 5 mg From Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists: Clinical Expectations in the First 12 Weeks of Treatment. Endocr Pract. 2024;30(8):701-709. doi:10.1016/j.eprac.2024.05.005
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