Tirzepatide weight loss injections are a prescription treatment for adults with obesity, or with overweight and a weight-related health condition. Medica Weight Loss is a telehealth company. You complete an online health assessment, a licensed provider decides whether tirzepatide is appropriate for you, and if it is prescribed, a state-licensed partner compounding pharmacy prepares it and ships it to you. We serve patients in all 50 states.
For many people, diet and exercise alone do not produce lasting weight loss, because appetite, hormones, genetics, and other medical conditions all influence body weight. In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, adults who took brand-name tirzepatide with diet and activity lost an average of 15.0% to 20.9% of their body weight over 72 weeks, compared with 3.1% for those on placebo with the same lifestyle support. Results vary, and compounded tirzepatide, which is not FDA-approved, has not been studied in trials like this.
How Tirzepatide Treatment Works at Medica Weight Loss
Complete your online health assessment
Share your health history, goals, and current medications.
A licensed provider reviews your information
The provider decides whether tirzepatide is appropriate for you. If you are not approved, you receive a full refund.
Your prescription is filled and shipped
If prescribed, a state-licensed partner compounding pharmacy prepares your medication, and it ships to you with free shipping.
Follow up during treatment
Our care team checks in as your dose is adjusted and answers your questions along the way.
Who May Be a Candidate for Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide is a prescription medication for adults, and a licensed provider makes the final decision. You may be considered if you are 18 or older and have:
- A body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (obesity), or
- A BMI of 27 or higher (overweight) and at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, or cardiovascular disease.
Providers also consider whether you have tried diet and exercise without lasting results and are ready to pair treatment with lifestyle changes. See how to know if you are a good candidate for medical weight loss.
Who Should Not Take Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide may not be appropriate if you:
- Have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- Are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding
- Have severe gastrointestinal disease, such as gastroparesis
- Have had a serious allergic reaction to tirzepatide or any of its ingredients
- Already take another GLP-1 medication or another tirzepatide product
Brand-name tirzepatide carries a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors, which were seen in rodents; it is not known whether they occur in people. If you use oral hormonal birth control, brand-name labeling advises switching to a non-oral method or adding a barrier method for 4 weeks after starting and for 4 weeks after each dose increase, because delayed stomach emptying can affect absorption.
Tell your surgeon and anesthesia team that you take tirzepatide before any planned procedure, since rare cases of pulmonary aspiration have been reported with GLP-1 medications during general anesthesia or deep sedation.
Tirzepatide Side Effects and Safety
Common side effects are digestive and are usually most noticeable when you start treatment and after dose increases:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Vomiting
- Indigestion and acid reflux
- Abdominal discomfort and belching
- Fatigue
- Hair thinning or hair loss
Contact your provider promptly if you notice:
- Symptoms of pancreatitis (severe abdominal pain that may spread to your back, with or without vomiting)
- Signs of gallbladder problems (sudden pain in the upper right abdomen, fever, or yellowing skin)
- Dehydration or much less urine than usual, which can affect your kidneys, especially if you have vomiting or diarrhea
- Low blood sugar (shakiness, sweating, confusion), particularly if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea
If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea, ask your prescriber whether those doses should change. Swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing is an emergency: call 911. Our tirzepatide side effects guide covers each one in detail.
How to Manage Side Effects
Most side effects occur during the early weeks or after a dose increase. These steps can help:
- Eat smaller meals and chew thoroughly
- Limit greasy, fried, or very sweet foods (see foods to avoid on tirzepatide)
- Stay hydrated with water and electrolyte drinks
- Increase your dose gradually under medical supervision
- Rest after injections if you feel fatigued
Is Tirzepatide a Long-Term Treatment?
For many people, yes. Obesity is a chronic condition, and weight regain is common after stopping. In SURMOUNT-4, adults who took brand-name tirzepatide for 36 weeks and then switched to placebo regained about 14% of their body weight over the following year, while those who continued kept losing weight. Your provider will discuss a maintenance plan with you before you stop or change your dose. See what happens if you stop semaglutide or tirzepatide.
Cost, Billing, and Insurance
Tirzepatide starts at $539 for a 3-month program, which works out to about $180 per month. You are charged for your program when you submit your medical form. If our provider does not approve you, you automatically receive a full refund. Insurance is not required, and health plans generally do not cover compounded medications. There are no automatic recurring charges, no hidden fees, and shipping is free.
Whether tirzepatide is right for you depends on your health history, and a licensed provider has to review it. Begin your consultation to find out, contact our team with questions, or read our tirzepatide FAQ.
Medica Weight Loss offers compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, prepared by a state-licensed compounding pharmacy based on a valid individual prescription. These compounded medications are not FDA-approved — they have not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Any reference to FDA-approved medications elsewhere refers solely to brand-name formulations such as Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound®, and Mounjaro®, which are not what Medica Weight Loss dispenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tirzepatide activates two gut-hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1. Together they reduce appetite, slow stomach emptying so you feel full longer, and improve insulin sensitivity. It is intended for use alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Weight loss builds gradually over months as your dose is adjusted, not in days. In the 72-week SURMOUNT-1 trial of brand-name tirzepatide, the average loss at the end was 15.0% to 20.9% depending on dose. Individual results vary, and compounded tirzepatide has not been studied in trials like this.
The brand-name prescribing schedule starts at 2.5 mg once weekly for four weeks, then increases in 2.5 mg steps at least four weeks apart as tolerated, with maintenance doses of 5, 10, or 15 mg weekly. At Medica Weight Loss, your provider sets your starting dose and adjustment schedule individually. Our tirzepatide FAQ covers dosing and missed doses in more detail.
In SURMOUNT-5, the first head-to-head trial of the brand-name products, average weight loss at 72 weeks was 20.2% with tirzepatide and 13.7% with semaglutide. The better fit depends on your health history, tolerability, and goals, which a licensed provider reviews with you. See our semaglutide vs tirzepatide comparison.
The brand-name products Zepbound® and Mounjaro® are FDA-approved. The compounded tirzepatide offered through Medica Weight Loss is not FDA-approved and has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Your provider decides whether a compounded option is appropriate for you.
Most are digestive: nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, indigestion, and abdominal discomfort, usually most noticeable at the start and after dose increases. Contact your provider promptly for severe abdominal pain, signs of dehydration, or symptoms of low blood sugar.
Weight regain is common. In SURMOUNT-4, adults who switched to placebo after 36 weeks of tirzepatide regained about 14% of their body weight over the next year. Talk with your provider before stopping or changing your dose.