Written by the Sakura Skin team. Medically reviewed by Bethany S. Campbell, JD, RN, Sakura Skin Medical Spa, Fenton & Flint, MI. Published October 8, 2026. Last updated October 8, 2026.
Short answer: Tirzepatide is a once-weekly injection that acts on two gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, to curb appetite and steady blood sugar. Mounjaro is the brand approved for type 2 diabetes, and Zepbound is the brand approved for weight management. In its main weight loss trial, people lost an average of 15 to 21% of their body weight over 72 weeks, depending on dose.
What is tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide is the first approved medication that activates two hormone receptors at once. Like semaglutide, it acts on GLP-1, which signals fullness, slows digestion and helps control blood sugar. It also acts on GIP, a second gut hormone involved in how your body handles food and insulin. That dual action is part of why it produced more weight loss on average than semaglutide in a head-to-head trial.
What’s the difference between Mounjaro and Zepbound?
They’re the same medication, made by Eli Lilly, approved for different uses:
| Mounjaro | Zepbound | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Tirzepatide | Tirzepatide |
| FDA-approved for | Type 2 diabetes in adults (2022) | Chronic weight management in adults (2023) |
| Other approved use | None | Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity (2024) |
| Dose range | 2.5 mg to 15 mg weekly | 2.5 mg to 15 mg weekly |
| Typical insurance coverage | Often covered for diabetes | Varies widely |
“Zepbound” is sometimes misspelled as “Zpbound” or “Zepbond” in searches. It’s all the same drug. Tirzepatide is only available as an injection. Foundayo (orforglipron), a daily pill from the same company approved in April 2026, is a different medication.
How much weight do people lose on tirzepatide?
15 to 21% of body weight on average, depending on dose. In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, adults lost an average of 15.0% at 5 mg, 19.5% at 10 mg and 20.9% at 15 mg over 72 weeks, compared with 3.1% on placebo. In SURMOUNT-5, which compared the two drugs directly, tirzepatide led to 20.2% average weight loss versus 13.7% for semaglutide over 72 weeks. Everyone also followed a reduced-calorie diet and exercise plan.
How is tirzepatide dosed?
It starts at 2.5 mg a week for four weeks, then goes up by 2.5 mg every four weeks as needed, to a maximum of 15 mg. The starting dose is mainly to help your body adjust, not to cause weight loss. Many people find a dose that works well below the maximum. We explain the reasoning in tirzepatide dose titration.
What are the side effects of tirzepatide?
The most common are nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, indigestion and stomach pain, usually strongest early on and after dose increases. Eating smaller meals and stopping when you’re full help a lot. See how to relieve nausea on tirzepatide.
Less common but serious risks include pancreatitis and gallbladder problems. Tirzepatide isn’t right for you if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2, or if you’re pregnant. It can also make birth control pills less effective, especially in the first month and after each dose increase, so talk to your provider about a backup method.
Is tirzepatide better than semaglutide?
On average it produces more weight loss, but the better choice depends on you: your health history, how you tolerate side effects and how you respond. Some people do great on semaglutide. Read Tirzepatide vs. semaglutide and Semaglutide, Ozempic and Wegovy.
Tirzepatide for weight loss in Fenton and Flint
Sakura Skin offers a physician-guided GLP-1 program with tirzepatide or semaglutide, overseen by our medical director, Wilfredo Rivera, MD, FACC, with Bethany S. Campbell, JD, RN. It starts with a free phone consultation, no insurance is required, and pricing varies by dose and treatment plan. We’ll explain exactly which medication you’d be prescribed and why. Learn more on our GLP-1 medical weight loss program page or in What is GLP-1?
We see patients at 13389 Pomona Drive in Fenton (Tuesday 10 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 3 PM) and at 2335 S. Linden Road, Suite B in Flint (Thursday 10 AM to 6 PM). Patients come to us from Fenton, Flint, Linden, Holly, Grand Blanc, Swartz Creek, Davison and Hartland, across Genesee and Livingston counties.
Wondering if tirzepatide fits you? Call 810-394-2187 or Text 810-512-2496, or book online at calendly.com/sakuraskin. We’re in Fenton and Flint, MI.
Sources: Mounjaro and Zepbound U.S. prescribing information. Jastreboff et al., “Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity” (SURMOUNT-1), New England Journal of Medicine, 2022. Aronne et al., “Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity” (SURMOUNT-5), New England Journal of Medicine, 2025. This article is for general education and isn’t medical advice. Tirzepatide is a prescription medication, and whether it’s right for you is decided by a medical provider after reviewing your history. Results vary from person to person.