The Zepbound is the brand name of an FDA-approved tirzepatide injection from Eli Lilly, taken once a week. FDA approved it on November 8, 2023, and its label describes it as a GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist. BrightSide offers Zepbound by prescription, dispensed by a licensed US pharmacy and shipped to your door.
What is Zepbound approved for?
FDA has approved Zepbound for two uses, each in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The first is to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in adults with obesity, or in adults with overweight who have at least one weight-related condition. The second is to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. FDA's first approval, for chronic weight management, came on November 8, 2023, and went to Eli Lilly. The label has a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rats. Zepbound is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma and in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. The label also says that taking it with other tirzepatide-containing products, or with any GLP-1 receptor agonist, is not recommended.
How is Zepbound taken?
Zepbound is injected under the skin once a week, at any time of day, with or without meals. The label lists the abdomen and the thigh as injection sites, plus the back of the upper arm when another person gives the injection, and it says to rotate sites with each dose. The starting dosage is 2.5 mg once a week for four weeks, which the label says is not approved as a maintenance dosage. The dosage then goes to 5 mg and can rise in 2.5 mg increments after at least four weeks on the current dose. Maintenance dosages for weight reduction are 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg, and 15 mg is the maximum. If a dose is missed, the label says to take it as soon as possible within 4 days. Zepbound is stored in a refrigerator at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit, and the label says not to freeze it.
How does Zepbound compare with compounded tirzepatide?
Zepbound is the FDA-approved product, and compounded tirzepatide is not FDA approved. Zepbound is Eli Lilly's product, and FDA approved it before it was marketed. Compounded tirzepatide is made by a state-licensed pharmacy for one patient on a prescription, and FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality. Both are available from BrightSide, prescribed by providers based in Seattle after an online or video visit. Zepbound is dispensed by a licensed US pharmacy and shipped to you. Compounded tirzepatide is the compounded option, and it costs less. Our pricing page shows both, per month and as the amount billed up front. A provider reviews your health history and decides whether to prescribe, and which one. Your visit is included in the treatment price, and you only pay if a provider prescribes.
| Form | Strengths | Doses in each |
|---|---|---|
| Single-dose pen | 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg | One |
| Single-dose vial | 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg | One |
| Multi-dose vial | 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg per dose | Four |
| Single-patient-use pen (Zepbound KwikPen) | 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg per dose | Four |
Common questions
Is Zepbound the same medicine as Mounjaro?
Both contain tirzepatide, and FDA approved them for different uses. When FDA approved Zepbound for chronic weight management in November 2023, it noted that tirzepatide was already approved under the trade name Mounjaro, to be used along with diet and exercise to help improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A provider decides which product a prescription is written for.
Does insurance cover Zepbound at BrightSide?
No. BrightSide is self-pay, and no claim goes to a health plan. If your insurance covers Zepbound, a retail pharmacy that takes your plan will usually cost less, and we will tell you so in your visit. The self-pay price is on our pricing page before you start a visit.
Related terms
- Tirzepatide: the medication in Zepbound.
- GLP-1: one of the two hormones whose receptors Zepbound acts on.
- Wegovy: the FDA-approved semaglutide brand.
- Cash pay: how Zepbound is paid for at BrightSide.
Sources
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) prescribing information, Eli Lilly, revised 8/2026, on DailyMed: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=487cd7e7-434c-4925-99fa-aa80b1cc776b
- FDA, FDA approves new medication for chronic weight management, November 8, 2023: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-medication-chronic-weight-management
- FDA, FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss, content current as of October 1, 2026: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss
Compounded medications are not FDA approved. They are prescribed by a licensed clinician and filled by a licensed 503A pharmacy.
