Let’s take a good look into the skinny of both Tirzepatide and Semaglutide. Tirzepatide Or Semaglutide? What Is Best For Your Weight & Fat Loss Journey?
Are You Ready To Change Your Outcome?
Tirzepatide, is a peptide sold under the brand name Mounjaro & was FDA Approved in 2022, and Zepbound which the FDA approved in 2023
Semaglutide, is a peptide sold under the brand names Ozempic, which the FDA Approved in 2017, and Wegovy, which the FDA Approved in 2021
Both peptides have been approved by the FDA to use as an anti-diabetic medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes as well as anti-obesity medications for long-term weight management but they both require sustained lifestyle changes in order to continue success. Both medications work for those, with or without diabetes, who are obese, slightly or moderately overweight, or simply looking to lose that last little bit of weight. Obesity & overweight are serious conditions that can be associated with some of the leading causes of death such as heart disease, stroke and diabete
Medications offered at All U Health are available and can assist with weight loss, fat loss, & even help control insulin levels.
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide is the latest weight loss peptide that, at therapeutic doses, acts on centers in the brain & suppresses appetite. This peptide focuses on both weight AND fat loss by working in two different paths. Used in conjunction with diet & exercise, Tirzepatide helps patients adhere to a reduced-calorie diet, enhancing the weight loss process. Approved in November 2023 by the FDA called Zepbound for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight & also have weight-related medical problems, in addition to a reduced calorie diet & increased physical activity, Tirzepatide activates receptors of hormones secreted from the intestine (glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) & glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)) to reduce appetite and food intake. Those who dieted, exercised, and took Tirzepatide observed changes in cholesterol, blood pressure, & waist size/waist circumference.
Approved in March 2022 by the FDA called Mounjaro™ as an adjunct to diet & exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, Tirzepatide is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) & glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA). This means it works by imitating not one, but two unique incretin hormones produced by the human body. By stimulating GLP-1 production in the body, it helps the body produce more insulin when needed. GIP has been shown to decrease food intake & increase energy expenditure therefore resulting in weight reductions & when combined with the GLP-1 receptor agonism, may result in greater effects on markers of metabolic dysregulation such as body weight, glucose, & lipids.
Mounjaro & Zepbound are exactly the same drugs, there is no difference whatsoever, except for the indication that has been approved by the FDA.
Tirzepatide has been found to lower fasting blood glucose levels as well as increase weight loss. It is beneficial for those looking to shed excess pounds quickly & safely. This medication has all the benefits of Semaglutide for weight loss with appetite suppression but it also adds the component of fat loss with it, in other words, you’ll lose weight & keep it off for the long haul. Tirzepatide, like the similar drug Semaglutide, works by slowing down digestion and increasing feelings of fullness & satiety.
Tirzepatide, the once weekly, GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, significantly reduces liver fat content (LFC) and volumes of visceral and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and improves adipose insulin sensitivity, which may prevent ectopic fat deposition, all which helps improves the overall health of the body by also lowering your risks of CVD (cardiovascular disease) and diabetes. It also stimulates pancreatic β cells insulin release and the GIP helps protects against hypoglycemia and improves TG (triglyceride) clearance. In DM (diabetes mellitus) patients, GIP secretion is reduced, however, can be restored by improving glycemic control. Tirzepatides’ ability to reliably produce positive changes in blood lipids, especially by significantly lowering levels of triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and very LDL (VLDL) cholesterol is a huge score for those looking to get serious about their health for the long-term.
Semaglutide
Semaglutide is a Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) produced by the gut. It is commercially called Wegovy & Ozempic. It increases insulin production, a hormone that lowers the blood sugar level while inhibiting glucagon secretion, which is a hormone that raises blood sugar, reduces appetite and energy intake while delaying gastric emptying. In 2017 this drug was approved as an anti-diabetic medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. In June 2021, it was approved for chronic weight management. Semaglutide has been used to treat diabetes since 2019. By mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1), it helps the body regulate blood sugar levels. This once-a-week sub-q injection, helps to reduce calorie intake, reduce hunger, and regulate appetite.
In people with type 2 diabetes, Semaglutide has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, triglycerides, as well as overall mortality rates. As indicated for the treatment of overweight & obesity it will simply help you lose weight.
Semaglutide may also help increase memory, synaptic transmission, nerve protection, neuronal stem cell proliferation, as well as moto function in the brain while decreasing neuroinflammation. It also helps decrease glucose production, liver fat content, liver enzymes, & hepatic steatosis while increasing insulin secretion& protects pancreatic β cells in the pancreas. This medication also increases protection of CVD (cardiovascular disease), heart rate, anti-inflammatory actions, and help improve endothelial function, myocardial ischemia, and lipids. Semaglutide plays an important role in our gut as well. It will help decrease gastric emptying & peristalsis, thus increasing nutrient absorption & normalize PPG (postprandial glucose) elevations. As we all know, it is important to have a healthy gut for optimal nutrient absorption & hormone balance. Unlike Tirzepatide, Semaglutide only works at suppressing our appetite, which will in turn help you lose weight, but it will not facilitate body fat loss the way Tirzepatide does.
Who should not or those to be cautious taking these medications:
We know you have questions on who can and cannot take these once-a-week weight loss injection peptides. We have some helpful answers below but you should always consult with your regular medical provider or PCP to make sure they clear you as well.
- Shouldn’t:
- those with personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2
- other diabetes medications (DM), especially insulin & sulfonylureas
- history of pancreatitis, gall bladder disease, kidney disease, tachycardia, retinopathy
- pregnant, or trying to get pregnant, nursing/breast-feeding
- in combination with any other GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Caution:
- Metformin: those with an elevated heart rate (HR), as there are GLP-1 receptors in the SA Node (sinoatrial node)
- GI disorders: those with high blood pressure-hypertension (HTN) on BP (blood pressure) medications
- Decreased glucose production, liver fat content, liver enzymes, or hepatic steatosis
- Birth control pills may not work as well to prevent pregnancy. If you take birth control pills, you may need to switch to another type of hormone-based birth control like a vaginal ring if your doctor tells you to. If another type of hormone-based birth control is not an option, use some other kind of birth control also, like a condom. Do this for 4 weeks after starting this drug and for 4 weeks each time the dose is raised.
Additional Benefits:
- Reduced inflammation: Both Tirzepatide & Semaglutide are proven to reduce inflammation markers which leads to decreased inflammation response & oxidative stress.
- Regulates digestions: This regulation is directly tied to how quickly or slowly food moves from the stomach to the intestines. Overall, this will leave you feeling fuller longer & help control the sugar absorption in the intestines. This is one reason why we suggest no red meat at the beginning of your journey as we do not want that sitting in your GI tract for long periods of time. Also, red meat can create inflammation within the body. Over time, you can add red meats back to your diet on a limit basis.
- Improved metabolic function: These medications regulate blood sugar levels by increasing insulin & decreasing glucagon-only when the blood sugar levels are high. It also improves the whole-body energy metabolism by increasing insulin sensitivity of muscle cells & regulating fat cell development. Even if you are not severely overweight, you can’t go wrong with improving your metabolic profile!
- Other: May reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease. Helps release insulin and lowers the amount of glucose produced by the liver when glucose rises at mealtime. Also slows the absorption of mealtime glucose.
Main physiological actions of the dual GIP & GLP-1 agonist Tirzepatide. GIP—glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide; GLP-1—glucagon-like peptide-1. Despite the similarities between the two incretins, it should be pinpointed that while GIP activity is mainly pancreatic, GLP-1 activity is systemic.
Pleiotropic actions of glucagon-like polypeptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) in type 2 diabetes.
For Tips & Tricks On How To Make These Medications Work Most Effectively & Efficiently Click Here To Read Our Nutrition & Exercise Blog
Side Effects:
The most common side effects reported are mild nausea, diarrhea, constipation, & feeling full quickly. All U Health has developed a protocol that works to reduce some of these side effects.
Also, with Tirzepatide, you may feel chilly or cooler than usual as the fat loss starts to shed from the body & you no longer have the large amount of visceral fat to keep you all warm & fuzzy feeling inside.
Troubleshooting other common side-effects:
Be sure to increase the dosing slowly, don’t be in a rush if you are experience GI side effects. If you are already sensitive to medications, you may want to start LOWER than the recommended dose & work your way up. If you are losing weight or noticing changes on your body on the lower dose, you may want to continue at that dose until you feel it no longer has the same effects. One thing to remember, MORE IS NOT BETTER when it comes to these medications. Longevity is key in order to retrain your brain & body on what to do with food & fat cells in your body.
If you have less than expected weight loss, ensure you are eating the right foods in the right portions. Be sure you are incorporating exercise into your daily routine. Be cautious eating sugary or unhealthy foods & over using alcohol.
Most people on do not see any side effects at all & if they do, the influence is minimal & may be controlled through changes in diet. We have experienced excellent results from those treated at All U Health, meaning a great deal of weight has come off, therefore, the people just feel better physically & emotionally about themselves.
Other less common side effects may include vomiting, abdominal (stomach) discomfort and pain, injection site reactions, fatigue, hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions (typically fever and rash), burping, hair loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Should you experience any of these, contact your medical provider immediately
Will I regain the weight after I stop taking the medication:
In terms of weight-loss management, the ability to keep the pounds off & not just the amount lost, the results are even starker: nearly 90% of the people taking Tirzepatide were able to maintain at least 80% or more of the weight they lost over 88 weeks. Most people who stop taking the medication don’t seem to gain it back, at least not right away & it’s not like every single person regains weight. One out of six, would say they are able to maintain the weight loss without medication. And if you go back to old habits, then of course, you may regain weight. You may want to think about doing a maintenance program of staying on the medication. We can talk about lowering the dose as well as less frequent dosing strategies in order to help you maintain your ideal goal. New research indicates that patients who stopped taking Tirzepatide after one year only regained about 14% of the weight they lost.
On the plus side, many on these medications improve health so much that most are able to get off other medications for diabetes & hypertension. Thus, even if you have to stay on the anti-obesity medications long term, the net number of medications may be fewer than before you started. The Tirzepatide group also showed additional benefits over the placebo group, including improved A1C, fasting glucose, insulin, & blood pressure.
How the process works at All U Health:
- Start your weight loss journey today by calling All U Health and scheduling your consultation with one of the medical providers. Since these are prescription drugs, you will be unable to purchase them on-line, they must be in a script form written from a medical provider. (call/text 480.939.4669)
- Appointments can be conducted in person or virtual via phone call.
- No blood testing is needed for peptide prescriptions.
- Medications are shipped directly to you from the pharmacy.
- Watch yourself lose an insane amount of weight AND fat loss in a short time period — the inches lost & the mirror selfies will not lie!
- Call or text when refills are needed.
- All U Health does NOT take insurance or coupons but you may use your HSA or FSA cards.
- Utilizing machines that measure both weight & body fat will be a great tool for you to use. If you don’t have something at home, most fitness centers offer them free of charge.
- Most scales don’t differentiate between weight/fat loss & muscle loss, for that reason, tracking only your weight isn’t a reliable way to determine whether you’re losing weight, fat, or muscle & in what amounts
- Conversely, a body fat scale can provide a more accurate picture of your body composition by measuring the percentage of all components
- Be sure to measure yourself on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule to understand the changes that are happening. Know that that every time will you fluctuate. Do not get discouraged, the medication is still working.
- We suggest that you take monthly progress photos of you in the same outfit, front, side, side, back. This will be a great physical indicator of your progression.
Common Questions:
- Are there check-ins?
- No check-ins are necessary
- Do I need to come to the clinic to receive medications?
- All medications are made to order from our compound pharmacy & shipped directly to you
- Does the medication need to be refrigerated after it is received?
- Yes
- If the cold pack is not cold upon receiving the medication it is still good to use as it shipped this way to maintain an even temperature during shipping
- Do I take the medication on an empty stomach?
- They may be taken 30 minutes before the first food, drink, or other oral medications
- Listen to your body, you may need to take the medication before bed, everyone is going to be slightly different
- How often do I take the medication?
- Once weekly injection
- Where are the injections done?
- Administered SubQ (subcutaneously)
- How long will it take to lose weight?
- The full effect can take up to 8 weeks or longer, but with proper diet & exercise you may start to see changes within 2-3 weeks; every body is going to lose differently so be patient & make necessary lifestyle changes if needed
- weight loss refers to a decrease in your overall body weight from muscle to water, whereas fat loss refers to weight loss from fat, and it’s a more specific & healthful goal than weight loss
- Can I combine both Semaglutide & Tirzepatide?
- There is no reason to combine these 2 medications as they target the same receptor so you would just be engaging in overkill with no additional benefits
- However, there are times when you can add additional or stack peptides such as CJC 1295/Ipamorelin, AOD 9604, or MOTS-C, although these would need pre-approval from one of our medical providers
- How do I avoid GI (gastrointestinal) upset?
- Increase medications gradually over time to minimize any GI side effects
- GI upset usually occurs days 3-5 after dosing & is common with overeating or not eating the correct food
- What if I miss a dose?
- Simply take the medication & change your dosing day
- Will I gain weight back if I stop taking the medication?
- Yes, if there have been no modifications to your diet, exercise, & lifestyle
- What are the costs associated with these medications?
- Consultations range from $69-$99
- Semaglutide starts at $550 & Tirzepatide starts at $700 (depending on dosing, may last 6-8 weeks)
If Semaglutide was the weight loss breakthrough, then Tirzepatide is the breakthrough OF the original breakthrough!
The Information presented here is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between a patient and their own physician/PCP and is for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you saw or read on our website.