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Information
This page is intended for Zepbound (tirzepatide) Vial patients to provide support & resources. For additional resources visit, zepbound.lilly.com/how-to-use

Getting started on your weekly Zepbound® (tirzepatide) routine.

After receiving Zepbound, you can start your weekly Zepbound routine.

Protect your vials

How to store Zepbound vials

  • Store all unopened vials in the refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
  • You may store the unopened vials at room temperature up to 86°F (30°C) for up to 21 days. If you store the vials at room temperature, do not return them to the refrigerator.
  • Discard the vials if not used within 21 days after removing from the refrigerator.
  • Do not freeze the vials. If the vials have been frozen, throw them away and use new ones.
  • Store your vials in the original carton to protect them from light.
  • Throw away all opened vials after use, even if there is medicine left in the vial.
  • Keep Zepbound vials, syringes, needles, and all medicines out of the reach of children.

How to use

Icon of a single dose vial

Gather supplies needed to give your injection

In addition to 1 single-dose vial, you will also need:

  • 1 syringe and 1 needle, supplied separately (for example, use a 1 mL syringe and needle as recommended by your healthcare provider)
  • 1 alcohol swab
  • Gauze
  • 1 sharps container for throwing away used needles and syringes
A calendar icon with checkmark

Steps to check your medication before injecting

Please read the full Instructions for Use included with your Zepbound vial.

  1. Remove the vial from the refrigerator.
  2. Check the vial label to make sure you have the right medicine and dose, and that it has not expired.
  3. Make sure the medicine:
    1. is not frozen
    2. is not cloudy
    3. is colorless to slightly yellow
    4. does not have particles

Always use a new syringe and needle for each injection to prevent infections and blocked needles. Do not reuse or share your syringes or needles with other people. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.

Wash your hands with soap and water.

A video icon

Watch and learn:
A step-by-step guide to your Zepbound (tirzepatide) vial

Please read the full Instructions for Use, Medication Guide, and Prescribing Information with Boxed Warnings included with your Zepbound vial.

If you prefer an illustrative guide versus a video, please go to Zepbound.com to learn more about your vial.

How to dispose

Properly dispose of your used needles and syringes

It is important to dispose of your used Zepbound materials safely. To do this, put your used needle and syringe in an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container right away after use. Do not throw away loose syringes or needles in household trash. If you don't have an FDA-cleared sharps container, use a household container. Make sure it is made of heavy-duty plastic; can be closed with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, without sharps being able to come out; and it is upright, stable during use, leak-resistant, and properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste.

Keep Zepbound vials, syringes, needles, and all medicines out of the reach of children. Do not recycle your sharps container. Follow your community guidelines for the right way to dispose of your sharps disposal container. For more information about safe sharps disposal, go to the FDA's website.

Safe sharps containers:

An icon of an FDA-cleared sharps container

FDA-cleared sharps container

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Detergent bottles

Make sure these bottles are cleaned, emptied, and labeled before use.

Missing or changing your dosing schedule

Life happens and schedules change. So, if you want to change the day of the week you take your Zepbound dose, make sure there are at least 3 days (72 hours) between doses.

If you miss a dose of Zepbound, take it as soon as possible—within 4 days (96 hours) of your scheduled dosing. If more than 4 days have passed, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on your regularly scheduled day. Do not take 2 doses of Zepbound within 3 days (72 hours) of each other.

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Smiling man looking away

Talk to your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.

Everyone can have a different experience, but you can see the most common side effects reported by people taking Zepbound.

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SAFETY SUMMARY WITH WARNINGS

Warnings -

Zepbound may cause tumors in the thyroid, including thyroid cancer. Watch for possible symptoms, such as a lump or swelling in the neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms, tell your healthcare provider.

  • Do not use Zepbound if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
  • Do not use Zepbound if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
  • Do not use Zepbound if you have had a serious allergic reaction to tirzepatide or any of the ingredients in Zepbound.

Zepbound may cause serious side effects, including:

Severe stomach problems. Stomach problems, sometimes severe, have been reported in people who use Zepbound. Tell your healthcare provider if you have stomach problems that are severe or will not go away.

Kidney problems (kidney failure). Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration.

Gallbladder problems. Gallbladder problems have happened in some people who use Zepbound. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get symptoms of gallbladder problems, which may include pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools.

Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Zepbound and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.

Serious allergic reactions. Stop using Zepbound and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting or feeling dizzy, or very rapid heartbeat.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your risk for getting low blood sugar may be higher if you use Zepbound with medicines that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or light-headedness, sweating, confusion or drowsiness, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, mood changes, hunger, weakness or feeling jittery.

Changes in vision in patients with type 2 diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Zepbound.

Depression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to changes in your mood, behaviors, feelings or thoughts. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you.

Common side effects

The most common side effects of Zepbound include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdominal) pain, indigestion, injection site reactions, feeling tired, allergic reactions, belching, hair loss, and heartburn. These are not all the possible side effects of Zepbound. Talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or doesn’t go away.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects. You can report side effects at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Before using Zepbound

  • Your healthcare provider should show you how to use Zepbound before you use it for the first time.
  • Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking medicines to treat diabetes including insulin or sulfonylureas which could increase your risk of low blood sugar. Talk to your healthcare provider about low blood sugar levels and how to manage them.
  • If you take birth control pills by mouth, talk to your healthcare provider before you use Zepbound. Birth control pills may not work as well while using Zepbound. Your healthcare provider may recommend another type of birth control for 4 weeks after you start Zepbound and for 4 weeks after each increase in your dose of Zepbound.

Review these questions with your healthcare provider:

  • ❑ Do you have other medical conditions, including problems with your pancreas or kidneys, or severe problems with your stomach, such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems digesting food?
  • ❑ Do you take diabetes medicines, such as insulin or sulfonylureas?
  • ❑ Do you have a history of diabetic retinopathy?
  • ❑ Do you take any other prescription medicines or over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or herbal supplements?
  • ❑ Are you pregnant, plan to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed? Zepbound may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while using Zepbound. It is not known if Zepbound passes into your breast milk. You should talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while using Zepbound.
  • Pregnancy Exposure Registry: There will be a pregnancy exposure registry for women who have taken Zepbound during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry, or you may contact Lilly at 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979).

How to take

  • Read the Instructions for Use that come with Zepbound.
  • Use Zepbound exactly as your healthcare provider says.
  • Zepbound is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm.
  • Use Zepbound 1 time each week, at any time of the day.
  • Change (rotate) your injection site with each weekly injection. Do not use the same site for each injection.
  • If you take too much Zepbound, call your healthcare provider, seek medical advice promptly, or contact a Poison Center expert right away at 1-800-222-1222.

Learn more

Zepbound is a prescription medicine. For more information, call 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979).

This summary provides basic information about Zepbound but does not include all information known about this medicine. Read the information that comes with your prescription each time your prescription is filled. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about Zepbound and how to take it. Your healthcare provider is the best person to help you decide if Zepbound is right for you.

ZP CON CBS 08NOV2023

Zepbound® and its delivery device base are registered trademarks owned or licensed by Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.

INDICATION

Zepbound® (ZEHP-bownd) is an injectable prescription medicine that may help adults with obesity, or with excess weight (overweight) who also have weight-related medical problems, lose weight and keep it off. It should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

  • Zepbound contains tirzepatide and should not be used with other tirzepatide-containing products or any GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if Zepbound is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight loss products. It is not known if Zepbound can be used in people who have had pancreatitis. It is not known if Zepbound is safe and effective for use in children under 18 years of age.