What is Zeptide?
Based on the available evidence, "Zeptide" does not appear to be an established pharmaceutical agent or recognized medical term in current clinical practice. The term does not appear in any of the provided guideline documents, FDA drug labels, or major clinical trials related to diabetes, obesity, or cardiovascular disease management.
Potential Sources of Confusion
Similar-Sounding Medications
Several medications with phonetically similar names exist and may be causing confusion:
Zepbound (tirzepatide) – This is an FDA-approved dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist for chronic weight management in adults with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) or overweight (BMI ≥27 kg/m²) with weight-related comorbidities, achieving approximately 20.9% weight loss at 72 weeks. 1
Zetia (ezetimibe) – This is a selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor that reduces intestinal cholesterol absorption by binding to Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1), producing an 18% reduction in LDL-cholesterol when used alone and an additional 25% reduction when combined with statins. 2
ZIP (Zeta Inhibitory Peptide) – This is a research peptide originally studied as a PKMζ inhibitor in memory research, but it has been shown to cause excitotoxicity in cultured hippocampal neurons and is not approved for clinical use. 3, 4
Ziconotide – This is an FDA-approved intrathecal analgesic for severe chronic pain, derived from Conus magus venom, which blocks N-type calcium channels in the spinal cord to produce analgesia without tolerance development or respiratory depression. 5
Clinical Recommendation
If you are seeking information about a weight-loss medication, you likely mean Zepbound (tirzepatide), which is the most recently approved and highly effective obesity pharmacotherapy. Tirzepatide demonstrates superior weight loss compared to other GLP-1 receptor agonists, with approximately 40% of patients achieving ≥25% total body weight loss at 72 weeks on the 15 mg dose. 1, 6
Key Facts About Zepbound (Tirzepatide)
Mechanism: Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist that suppresses appetite, delays gastric emptying, enhances insulin secretion, and increases energy expenditure. 1
Dosing: Administered as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection, starting at 5 mg weekly and titrating up to a maximum of 15 mg weekly based on tolerance and response. 1
Efficacy: Produces mean weight loss of 20.9% at 72 weeks, representing approximately 6% greater absolute weight loss than semaglutide 2.4 mg. 1, 6
Safety: Common adverse effects include gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea 17-22%, diarrhea 13-16%, vomiting 6-10%) that are typically mild-to-moderate and transient. 1, 6
Contraindications: Absolute contraindication in patients with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2). 1
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not confuse Zepbound (tirzepatide) with Mounjaro (also tirzepatide), as these are the same medication marketed under different brand names—Mounjaro is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes management, while Zepbound is FDA-approved specifically for chronic weight management. 1
If you intended to ask about a different medication or concept, please clarify the spelling or provide additional context about the clinical indication you are investigating.