Tirzepatide / L-Carnitine Injection
PRESCRIPTIVE, MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS
In May 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved tirzepatide (Mounjaro) injection for Type II Diabetes. This once weekly, subcutaneous injection, was quickly noted though to not only help with the reduction of glucose and A1C levels, but individuals were also losing weight. It was found that along with diet and exercise, tirzepatide can lead to significant weight loss — up to 20%. Due to this, in October of 2022, it got put on the “fast track” designation and was approved under the name Zepbound, for chronic weight loss in November of 2023.
How it works: Tirzepatide is a unique medication that mimics two hormones naturally found in the body: GLP-1 and GIP. After eating, these hormones stimulate the release of insulin, which is responsible for reducing blood sugar. Tirzepatide also reduces the time for the stomach to empty its contents, suppressing appetite. Other injectable weight loss medications only mimic one incretin — GLP-1. It’s thought that because tirzepatide acts like two incretins, it can cause more weight loss than current alternatives.
Delays stomach emptying, leading to a feeling of fullness and smaller meal size
Slows intestinal motility
Lowers blood sugars, in part by reducing the production of sugar in the liver
Stimulates insulin secretion by the pancreas
At New Vision Weight Loss Clinic, our motto is always “start low and go slow,” and this injection is no different. We start at a low dose which can be increased gradually over 20 to 24 weeks to a max of 15 mg weekly. Very few patients will need the max of 15 mg weekly though; it is common for patients to have great success with minimal side effects around 2.5-10 mg weekly. Our tirzepatide is compounded with l-carnitine.
Side Effects: mild fatigue, intermittent nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. This is not a full list of possible side effects, but the most common that were found in research studies. Some are able to be prevented based on water intake and nutrition choices.
What to Expect: For your initial visit, you will need to schedule an appointment with our office. Upon arriving for your appointment, you will have a little paperwork to complete and then you will have your consultation with our Nurse Practitioner who will use her discretion (based on the FDA recommendations for treating obesity) to determine if tirzepatide is a safe and good option for you. She will carefully screen you by evaluating your past medical history, any current medications you take, your vital signs, and your body mass index (BMI).
You are NOT a good candidate for tirzepatide if you have any of the following: diabetic retinopathy, low blood sugar, decreased kidney function, pancreatitis, medullary thyroid cancer (or a family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma), or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.
Since the tirzepatide injection does not help increase energy or boost metabolism, we recommend pairing it with either a vitamin b-12 injection or one of our lipotropic injections (lipo-lean, vita-chrom, or the mega-burn).
*For follow-up visits, no appointment is necessary; it is only the initial consultation that requires a scheduled appointment.