From the Research
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) has not been associated with an increased risk of thrombosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. Clinical trials of tirzepatide, including the SURPASS program which studied thousands of patients, have not demonstrated any significant thrombotic risk signal 1. Unlike some other diabetes medications, tirzepatide does not carry warnings about venous thromboembolism, arterial thrombosis, or other clotting disorders in its safety profile. In fact, GLP-1 receptor agonists (one component of tirzepatide's dual mechanism) have shown cardiovascular benefits in clinical trials, potentially reducing atherosclerotic events 2, 3. Tirzepatide combines GLP-1 and GIP receptor activation, which primarily affects glucose regulation, appetite, and weight management pathways rather than coagulation cascades. Some key points to consider when evaluating the risk of thrombosis with tirzepatide include:
- The results of a pre-specified meta-analysis that showed tirzepatide did not increase the risk of major cardiovascular events in participants with T2D versus controls 1
- The findings of the SURPASS program, which demonstrated that tirzepatide was not associated with excess cardiovascular risk 2
- The fact that tirzepatide has been shown to improve blood pressure and reduce Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides, which may contribute to a reduced risk of thrombotic events 4 Patients with type 2 diabetes already have an elevated baseline risk of thrombotic events due to the disease itself, but current evidence suggests tirzepatide does not exacerbate this risk. As with any medication, patients should report unusual symptoms like leg pain/swelling, chest pain, or breathing difficulties to their healthcare provider, but specific thrombosis monitoring beyond standard diabetes care is not required when using tirzepatide. It is essential to continue monitoring the safety profile of tirzepatide as more data becomes available, particularly from long-term studies and real-world evidence 5.