Is Tirzepatide Still Available? Is Zepbound Still Available?
Will the Cost of Tirzepatide (Zepbound) Increase?
Are you concerned about maintaining your weight loss journey in light of recent changes in weight loss medication availability? On October 2, 2024, the FDA announced that the shortage of Tirzepatide (aka, Mounjaro and Zepbound) is over. Eli Lilly has stated that it is now able to meet the demand for Tirzepatide in the Unites States.
Important Information about Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide is a medication, made by Eli Lilly, that treats diabetes and obesity. The generic form of the medication is Tirzepatide. The brand names versions of the medication produced by Eli Lilly are Mounjaro and Zepbound. The medication is prescribed as ‘Mounjaro’ when Tirzepatide is used to treat diabetes and as ‘Zepbound’ when Tirzepatide is used to treat obesity.
How Does The FDA’s Announcement About Tirzepatide Affect Me”
Prior to October 2, 2024 compounding pharmacies were able to produce Tirzepatide and provide it to weight loss & wellness centers and to medical spas like ours. This made Tirzepatide readily available and less expensive for patients.
At Shea Aesthetic Clinic, and many other med spas like us, we obtained Tirzepatide from a compounding pharmacy and were able to provide patients with high-quality compounded versions of Tirzepatide. This made the medication much more affordable than the brand-name versions of Tirzepatide provided by Eli Lilly (Mounjaro and Zepbound).
Now, due to the FDA’s announcement about the shortage of Tirzepatide being over, the only forms of the medication that are available are the brand name forms: Mounjaro and Zepbound.
The problem… these forms are very expensive (even with insurance paying a portion of the cost).
If you’ve obtained a generic compounded version of Tirzepatide from a medical spa, weight loss or wellness center, or an online store, please note that these options are
no longer available
.
The only way to obtain Tirzepatide (Zepbound) now is with a prescription from a physician.
How Can I Get Tirzepatide? What Are My Options As Of Today For Weight Loss With Tirzepatide?
We genuinely care about you and your weight loss journey, so we’ve put together a plan to help you. Here are your options as of today:
- Semaglutide remains available at Shea Aesthetic Clinic and other medical spas, weight loss and wellness centers. The majority of our Tirzepatide patients are choosing to transition to Semaglutide with the support of our dedicated weight loss team. We’re here to help you make this transition smoothly.
- Continued Weight Loss Counseling: Proper diet and exercise choices, will enable you to maintain the weight you achieve with weight loss medications. After stopping weight loss medications, if you don’t improve your diet and exercise properly, you’ll gain weight worse than you ever have. We strongly encourage you to continue weight loss coaching sessions at Shea whether you choose to take Semaglutide or not. These sessions are available for a fee and can be scheduled weekly, every two weeks, or monthly.
Again, the only way to obtain Tirzepatide currently is with a prescription from a physician.
How To Get A Prescription for Tirzepatide:
Dr. Bass can write you a prescription for Tirzepatide (Zepbound), so that you can obtain it from your pharmacy (depending on availability). You will need to have an in-person, or virtual consultation with Dr. Bass (1 hour) to receive a prescription for Tirzepatide (Zepbound). During the consultation Dr. Bass will review your health history, medications, assess your current diet and exercise, and ensure that it is safe for you to take Tirzepatide (Zepbound) for weight loss. There is a fee for the initial consultation and a fee for adjusting the dose/calling in refills.
Are Weight Loss Medications Enough For Healthy Weight Loss?
No. They are not. If the use of weight loss medications is not combined with a change in lifestyle, the weight loss achieved will be temporary. The weight will come back.
If you want healthy weight loss you must lose weight properly. This means you must eat a healthy diet, exercise daily, consume adequate amounts of protein, eat proper portions of food, drink adequate amounts of water, limit carbohydrate intake, and more.
People who take weight loss medications like Tirzepatide (Zepbound) in combination with this kind of lifestyle change, are the ones that can lose weight and keep it off for good. If people take Tirzepatide (Mounjaro or Zepbound) without this kind of lifestyle change they will simply regain the weight once the medication stops.
With or Without Tirzepatide – How a Weight Loss Program Can Help?
At Shea Aesthetic Clinic, we understand your nervousness, your hopes, and how hard you’ve worked to get as far on your weight loss journey as you have. We are here to support you every step of the way. Weight loss drugs are an effective way to lose weight—but once you stop the drug, the weight typically comes back. We know how discouraging this can be.
Whether patients use weight loss medications or not, our experienced weight loss team offers personalized, one-on-one counseling to address individual needs and challenges.
We monitor patient progress with our Inbody analysis scale. With this device we track our patients’ weight, percent body fat, muscle mass, metabolic rate, and more.
We provide weekly accountability visits to help our patients change their lives. We review patients weekly dietary intake using the My Fitness Pal App and make adjustments based on this record and the body composition analysis.
We provide weekly emails to suggest healthy meals, provide exercise tips, and share up to date information with patients about the weight loss medications.
Our goal for weight loss patients on Tirzepatide or Semaglutide is to teach them how to lose weight well, how change their behaviors and life-style so that they can obtain their goal weight and maintain a healthy weight for the rest of their lives.
Our goal as soon as our patients start taking weight loss medications is to help them adjust their lives so that they no longer need the medication.
So, at Shea,
we provide patients with more than just a weight loss medication
. We teach you how to be successful at maintaining a healthy weight, without medications, for the rest of your life.
Our physician, expert weight loss coaches, nurses, and certified medical assistants will work closely with you to guide your exercise and nutrition plans, ensuring you have the tools and knowledge to keep off the weight you’ve worked so hard to lose.
Let Dr. Kirk Bass at Shea Aesthetic Clinic and his team be your partners in your weight loss with Tirzepatide journey.
We sincerely encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have about receiving a prescription for Tirzepatide (Zepbound). We are here to support you!
Call (865) 294-4114
Text (877) 585-0091
Email SheaAestheticClinic@gmail.com
Warm regards,
Dr. Kirk Bass
Kate, Mandy, and Jenna
Shea Aesthetic Clinic
232 W Tennessee Ave
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
More details on the end of the Tirzepatide shortage:
So What Happened to My Weight Loss Drugs?
The weight loss and diabetes medication market has been on a wild ride over the past few years. At the center of this storm is Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in the medications Mounjaro and Zepbound, developed by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.
Tirzepatide
In 2022 Tirzepatide received FDA approval the treatment of diabetes and sold the medication as Mounjaro. In November of 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tirzepatide for weight loss under the brand name, Zepbound.
Shortly after its initial FDA approval, the surge in demand for Tirzepatide soon outpaced Eli Lilly’s manufacturing capacity, leading the FDA to place Tirzepatide on its drug shortage list.
Compounding Pharmacies Provided a Less Expensive Alternative
The ‘shortage’ designation opened the door for compounding pharmacies to step in and meet the growing demand. These specialized pharmacies, which typically custom-make medications to suit individual patient needs, were able to legally produce their own, compounded versions of Tirzepatide. The benefit for patients was that this allowed patients to access the weight loss medication they needed at a more affordable price than if they obtained Mounjaro or Zepbound from their pharmacy with a prescription from their physician.
Tirzepatide Shortage “Resolved”
After two years of supply challenges, the FDA announced, on October 2nd, 2024, that the Tirzepatide shortage was resolved. This stopped compounding pharmacies from being able to create a compounded version of the Tirzepatide. Now the only way to obtain Tirzepatide (Zepbound) is with a prescription from a physician and the only producer of the medication going forward will be Eli Lilly.
Implications for Patients
The end of the ‘shortage’ designation is stressful for patients who have been using drugs provided by the compounding pharmacies. Patients who had grown accustomed to the more affordable compounded alternatives are now faced with the prospect of having to switch to the brand-name medications which can cost hundreds of dollars more per month.
Expecting Supply Chain Challenges
Eli Lilly and the FDA together state that the Tirzepatide shortage is over. However, tied to this statement, both organizations also have cautioned that patients and prescribers will experience supply disruptions. So, for those who are able to afford the higher price tag for Tirzepatide, there’s really no guarantee that the drugs they need will actually be available when they need them.
What Does The FDA’s removal of Tirzepatide from the Drug Shortage List Mean For Me Moving Forward?
As the weight loss medication market continues to evolve, patients will have to deal with higher drug costs and supply issues.
It’s important to seek out reliable information from trusted sources. Talk with your primary care provider or a weight loss physician about your options.
Dr. Kirk Bass and the weight loss providers at Shea Aesthetic Clinic, are committed to helping you to stay on track with your hard-earned weight loss progress. They’ve provided a weight loss program for Knoxville and Oak Ridge patients for the last 6 years. Please feel free to call or come in and consult with them anytime.
Conclusion
While changes in weight loss medication availability is stressful, it’s important to remember that your weight loss journey is much more about lifestyle changes than weight loss medications.
The goals you’ve been working so hard to achieve are still within reach, and there are many ways to continue your progress.
At Shea Aesthetic Clinic, our expert staff understands your concerns and is ready to support you, with or without Tirzepatide. Our comprehensive approach, including personalized nutrition and exercise recommendations, monitoring your progress on our Inbody Analysis device, and ongoing support, will help you maintain and even build upon your success.
Remember, you’ve already demonstrated incredible strength and determination in your journey so far. With the right education, guidance, and support, you can continue to reach your health goals, no matter what’s going on in the drug industry!
**Outline of Important Information about Tirzepatide:
On October 2, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a significant development regarding Eli Lilly’s Tirzepatide medications, Mounjaro and Zepbound. Here’s what you need to know:
- End of Shortage
The FDA declared an end to the two-year shortage of Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in both Mounjaro (for diabetes) and Zepbound (for weight loss). This means that Eli Lilly can now meet the current and projected national demand for these medications. - Increased Accessibility
With the shortage resolved, more people should be able to access these brand-name drugs. However, supply issues are expected as products move through the supply chain. - Impact on Compounded Versions
The end of the shortage has significant implications for compounded versions of Tirzepatide:
- Compounding pharmacies must immediately stop preparing copies of Mounjaro and Zepbound.
- This change affects many patients who have been relying on these compounded alternatives, which were often cheaper and more readily available.
- Eli Lilly’s Response
Eli Lilly has invested heavily in increasing its manufacturing capacity, including a $9 billion investment to boost production of Tirzepatide and other weight loss drugs. The company expressed gratitude for their manufacturing and quality teams’ efforts in expanding capacity. - Potential Challenges
While availability will improve, some challenges may persist:- Cost: Brand-name drugs are typically more expensive than compounded versions, which may affect affordability for patients.
- Transition: Patients currently using compounded Tirzepatide will have to switch to brand-name Tirzepatide (Zepbound), change to Semaglutide (Wegovy), or discontinue medical weight loss treatments.
- FDA Clarification on Compounded Drugs
The FDA reiterated that compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and reemphasized the conditions under which pharmacies can compound versions of brand-name drugs.
This development marks a significant shift in the landscape of diabetes and weight-loss medications, potentially improving access to these treatments while also raising new considerations for patients and healthcare providers.
