Tirzepatide and Semaglutide: Learn About These New Weapons in the Weight Loss Battle

Are you exhausted from your weight loss battle? Now’s not the time to give up. Weight loss can be a reality instead of a depressing dream because a new day is here: The weight loss medications tirzepatide and semaglutide that you’ve likely heard about really do work.

At Reagan Medical Center, our primary care physicians provide comprehensive services to ensure your physical and mental health. Being overweight not only affects your body, but it also can come with emotional ups and downs. The new weight loss medications can help you succeed in your efforts to lose weight, without the familiar yo-yo effect.

Following are facts about tirzepatide and semaglutide and how these new weapons in the weight loss battle can help you conquer a seemingly impossible task. 

What are tirzepatide and semaglutide? 

You may know tirzepatide and semaglutide by the brand names Mounjaro® and Ozempic®. These medications were developed to improve blood glucose control in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. For patients who remained on the drugs, researchers found that weight loss was an unexpected benefit.

Tirzepatide is still used to treat diabetes, and doctors prescribe it under the name Zepbound® for weight control in obese patients. Likewise, semaglutide, under the brand name Ozempic, is used for diabetes control, while Wegovy® manages obesity.

You take semaglutide or tirzepatide by injection. Both work by lessening your appetite, but some studies on Zepbound (tirzepatide) have shown that patients who take it lose more weight than with Wegovy. 

Semaglutide

Semaglutide — in a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists — works by copying the actions of the GLP-1 hormone. This is a hormone that your digestive tract releases when you eat.

The GLP-1 hormone stimulates your body to produce insulin, helping to lower blood glucose. It also slows down your digestion process and sends signals to your brain that tell you you’re full. 

This helps you eat less.

Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide is both a GLP-1 receptor agonist and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist. GIP is a hormone made in your digestive tract that also stimulates the release of insulin, helping people with diabetes.

Tirzepatide operates the same way semaglutide does. By activating these receptors and acting on the area of the brain that controls appetite, the medication helps lessen food cravings and the desire to overeat.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy for weight loss in the summer of 2021 and Zepbound for weight loss in the fall of 2023. Both are approved for those whose BMI is 30 or more, or a BMI of 27 or more with another weight-related medical condition, such as high blood pressure. 

Medically supervised weight loss helps support a healthy journey

Our team offers medically supervised weight loss for patients who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related health issues. We create an individualized plan based on your specific needs and monitor you as you lose weight. We teach you how to administer your weight loss injection. 

Studies show that patients can lose about 12% of their weight taking semaglutide and about 20% of their weight taking tirzepatide over 16 months. 

These new drugs provide a realistic path for you to lose weight. We’re here to support you in your weight loss journey. Call Reagan Medical Center to schedule a visit or request an appointment online today. We’re conveniently located in Lawrenceville, Dacula, Suwanee, and Johns Creek, Georgia.