Tirzepatide

Description

Tirzepatide is a once‑weekly injectable medication that activates two incretin receptors: GIP (glucose‑dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP‑1 (glucagon‑like peptide‑1). It is FDA‑approved as Mounjaro® for type 2 diabetes and as Zepbound® for chronic weight management in adults with obesity/overweight, and for moderate‑to‑severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity. It is not a peptide blend; it is a single synthetic peptide drug.

How it may work (core mechanisms)

• Glycemic control: Enhances glucose‑dependent insulin release, suppresses glucagon, and improves insulin sensitivity.
• Appetite & intake: Acts on brain centers to reduce appetite and calorie intake; slows gastric emptying (you feel full sooner/longer).
• Weight loss physiology: Dual GIP/GLP‑1 agonism appears to produce greater weight loss than GLP‑1 alone in clinical programs.
• OSA improvement (in adults with obesity): Reductions in body weight and related upper‑airway risk factors are thought to underlie improvements in AHI (apnea–hypopnea index).