Losing weight is more complex than anyone can imagine. The journey can be successful only when you and your medical spa expert plan together based on your specific needs and choose an appropriate medicine to aid it. You must have heard about different FDA-approved therapies for overweight and obesity that entered the market recently. Of them, tirzepatide shots have garnered the most attention. Although it started as type 2 diabetes treatment, medical practitioners can recommend this for managing weight, too. It may be the right solution. Let’s understand this treatment procedure better for some clarity.
Effectiveness of tirzepatide for weight loss
Weight loss injections like semaglutide and tirzepatide have emerged as superheroes with the latter being slightly more popular. In 2022, clinical trials of this medication on patients with obesity or excess weight with comorbidity other than diabetes were run. The participants reduced by up to 52 pounds in 72 weeks. The treatment started with the lower recommended weekly doses before increasing them after every four weeks. The results showed that tirzepatide helped people lose 22.5% of their overall weight. If you compare the outcome with other FDA-approved treatments, you will realize that most others offer only 5-15% improvement.
However, correct administration of the doses is the main clincher, as studies also demonstrate that lower doses resulted in an average weight loss of about 16%. However, higher amounts of tirzepatide, about 15 mg, accelerated the weight loss rate to 22.5%.
Factors to consider about tirzepatide treatment for weight loss
Remember, the success of this weight loss procedure depends on the choice of the right medical spa center. Specialists should be trained in this realm and be able to guide you about suitable lifestyle modifications for sustainable effects. Other than medication and biology, many factors can influence your decision to opt or not opt for it. Hence, it’s better to assess it from every angle. For example, one can think about the treatment cost. The drug can cost more than a thousand dollars for a weekly fill. But your insurance plan can offer colossal relief depending on the coverage. Like others, it can also cause some side effects, such as nausea, constipation, diarrhea, appetite loss, stomach ache, indigestion, etc.
When you go for the treatment, you can expect the trained professionals to use a pen-like injection to push the medication into the skin of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. The medicine needs refrigeration for its maintenance. The pens are used only once and need to be disposed of properly. Initially, you will receive a lower dose of 2.5mg. It will increase when your body responds positively, from 2.5mg in the first four weeks to 5mg in the next four weeks. Like this, it can go up to 15 mg when the four-week period reaches the sixth stage. 15mg is the maximum dose one can take.
This glucagon-like peptide or GLP-1 agonist drug acts like hormones that work on appetite and blood sugar levels. The term agonist refers to its ability to stimulate a specific receptor, such as GLP-1. You get one injection weekly. When you meet your weight loss medical expert, they will explain everything to help you choose this treatment stress-free.