2023-12-06 22:15:00
According to the FDA, Zepbound side effects that may occur are nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea.
(By Robin Foster – HealthDay News) — The newly approved weight loss drug known as Zepbound is now available for patients to take, drugmaker Eli Lilly announced Tuesday.
“Today opens another chapter for adults living with obesity who have been searching for a new treatment option like Zepbound,” Rhonda Pacheco, group vice president of Lilly Diabetes and Obesity, US, said in a company news release. .
“Making Zepbound available in U.S. pharmacies is the first step, but we need to work hand-in-hand with employers, government, and healthcare industry partners to remove barriers and make Zepbound available.” for those who need it,” Pacheco added. “We are excited to see the growth in coverage [de seguros] in the market, giving millions of Americans access to Zepbound.”
It was just last month that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zepbound as a weight-loss drug. Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound, had already been approved by the FDA as a treatment for type 2 diabetes called Mounjaro.
To trigger weight loss, tirzepatide mimics two hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, which stimulate the release of insulin in the body. It calms appetite and slows the speed at which food moves through the stomach, helping patients feel full. Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug Wegovy uses semaglutide, which only targets GLP-1.
That difference translated into greater weight loss with Zepbound than with Wegovy, according to a recent study. Zepbound has been found to cause weight loss of up to 20.9% with higher doses, while Wegovy patients typically see a 15% reduction in weight.
According to the FDA, the most common side effects of Zepbound include nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea.
The drug label will also have warnings regarding the potential for inflammation of the pancreas, gallbladder problems, low blood sugar, acute kidney injury, damage to the retina in people with type 2 diabetes, and suicidal behavior or thinking.
It is still unclear how widely the cost of Zepbound will be covered, CNN reported. Medicare and Medicaid can’t pay for obesity drugs, but Lilly said it is offering a savings card for people with private health insurance to get Zepbound for $25 with a one- or three-month prescription if their plans cover the cost of the drug. For those whose plans don’t cover Zepbound, the savings card would reduce the cost to $550 per month, which is regarding half the list price, the company said.
Amid skyrocketing demand for weight loss drugs, many of these highly popular medications have faced supply shortages in recent months.
More information
Visit the Mayo Clinic to learn more regarding weight loss medications.
SOURCE: Eli Lilly, press release, December 5, 2023; cnn
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