Tirzepatide vs semaglutide

We at My Concierge MD are committed to providing our patients with individualized and comprehensive medical treatment. We educate our patients on the benefits of preventative care and seek to encourage them to be active participants in their own health and wellness. We are committed to offering our patients the finest level of care and assistance, from routine check-ups to complex medical difficulties.

As more individuals globally develop diabetes, pharmaceutical companies continue to create new drugs to assist manage the disease. Tirzepatide and semaglutide are two of the most common diabetic treatment medicines. Both of these medications have demonstrated promising outcomes in controlling blood sugar levels and lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Both tirzepatide and semaglutide are subcutaneous medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide, on the other hand, is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, whereas semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist only. As a result, tirzepatide can cause the pancreas to produce insulin in response to meal intake while decreasing the liver’s glucagon synthesis. Semaglutide, on the other hand, stimulates insulin secretion while suppressing glucagon levels.

When compared to other diabetes drugs, tirzepatide has been proven to achieve superior glycemic control in terms of glycosylated hemoglobin reduction and improved fasting and postprandial glucose levels. Furthermore, the studies show a reduction in weight loss (-6.2 to -12.9 kg) as well as other cardiovascular advantages from changing the lipid profile, lowering blood pressure, and reducing visceral adiposity. Tirzepatide is well tolerated and has acceptable adverse events, with a low risk of hypoglycemia. The SURPASS 4 clinical trial found that persons with T2DM and high cardiovascular risk had better cardiovascular outcomes. Furthermore, promising findings from the SURMOUNT trials and the forthcoming SURPASS-CVOT research will provide more insight into cardiovascular safety in the future [1].

What is the best weight loss drug?

Individual responses to weight loss medications might vary, and the ideal drug for weight management depends on various aspects, including a person’s overall health, medical history, and special needs. Talking with a healthcare practitioner to identify the best solution for you is critical. That being stated, here are six regularly prescribed or available body weight reduction drugs:

Phentermine-topiramate

Phentermine-topiramate is a combination of phentermine, a weight-loss medication, and topiramate, an anticonvulsant. Because it operates like a stimulant medication called an amphetamine, phentermine has the potential to be abused. An increase in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as sleeplessness, constipation, and nervousness, are all possible side effects. Topiramate raises the likelihood of birth abnormalities.

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)

Mounjaro brand name for (tirzepatide) is a first-of-its-kind drug that activates both the hormones GLP-1 and GIP receptors, resulting in better blood sugar control. During tirzepatide diabetes trials, researchers discovered that those who received tirzepatide lost significantly more weight than those who received normal diabetes treatment.

Although the drug did not get the FDA approval, it is used to treat obesity off-label. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, constipation, upper abdominal discomfort, and stomach pain are some of the side effects. This drug is once a week injection that is administered beneath the skin.

Tirzepatide is an innovative drug that works by combining the dual agonism of Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide (GIP) and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors. Dual GIP (GIP and GLP1}are incretin hormones, which are released in the intestine in response to dietary intake and stimulate pancreatic beta cell activity, resulting in the production of insulin. GIP and GLP1 have other metabolic roles. GLP1 in particular decreases food intake and postpones stomach emptying. Furthermore, Tirzepatide has been demonstrated to lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while improving blood pressure.

Orlistat

With a BMI of 30 or higher, liraglutide, sold under the brand name Saxenda, is used to treat obesity. Liraglutide, in contrast to other weight-loss medications, functions by mimicking a hormone in the body that controls appetite, which reduces food intake and increases feelings of fullness. Patients are advised to take Liraglutide once daily, at any time of the day, with or without food. It is important to stress that Liraglutide is not a solution and should always be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise program. Additionally, as Liraglutide might result in hypoglycemia, it is crucial to routinely check blood glucose levels, particularly in people who are receiving treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Weight (4.65 kg vs 2.5 kg; orlistat versus placebo, respectively), BMI (1.91 kg/m2 vs 0.64 kg/m2), waist circumference (4.84 cm vs 2 cm), cholesterol (10.68 mg vs 6.18 mg), and LDL level (5.87 mg vs 2.33 mg) all decreased significantly (P0.05) when compared to placebo. The GI side effects of loose stools, oily stools/spotting, abdominal pain, and fecal urgency were seen in the orlistat group.

Bupropion-naltrexone

Bupropion-naltrexone is a medication used to treat obesity in adults. A combo medication is bupropion and naltrexone. Addiction to alcohol and opioids is treated with naltrexone. Bupropion is a medication for treating depression (often known as an antidepressant) as well as a quit-smoking assistance. Bupropion contains the same suicide risk warning as all other antidepressants. Blood pressure can be increased with bupropion-naltrexone. As a result, at the beginning of treatment, your provider will need to periodically check your blood pressure. Constipation, headaches, and nausea are typical most common side effects.

In all four phase 3 investigations, patients receiving naltrexone/bupropion 32 mg/360 mg experienced statistically and clinically substantial weight loss compared to placebo. Furthermore, the weight loss persisted for the whole 56-week duration of all the trials.

Setmelanotide

A drug called setmelanotide is used to treat a few uncommon genetic diseases linked to extreme obesity. It acts on particular receptors in the brain to control hunger and weight because it is a melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) agonist.

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) insufficiency, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1) deficiency, or leptin receptor (LEPR) deficit are the three conditions for which setmelanotide is typically recommended. These genetic conditions cause significant obesity from an early age by interfering with the usual signaling pathways involved in metabolism and appetite control.

The studies involving 21 participants, 7 in which the genetic defects were biallelic variations in either the prohormone POMC (n=9), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1; n=1), an important enzyme in activating the melanocortin 4 receptor pathway, or the LEPR (n=11), which is crucial for POMC function, underlie the regulatory approval of setmelanotide. The medicine was given daily throughout a varied duration of dose-finding, and the dose was modified to control hyperphagia. After then, there was a 10-week open label phase during which individuals had to drop 5 kg, or 5% if their body weight was under 100 kg, in order to continue the trial. Successful patients started a 32-week open-label phase after an 8-week placebo-controlled phase that included a 4-week placebo interval.

Tirzepatide & semaglutide near me

My Concierge, MD, Beverly Hills, offers the best tirzepatide and semaglutide near me in Beverly Hills but can also come to your home or office throughout the Los Angeles area. We serve patients near Beverly Hills, Bel Air, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, Culver City, Hollywood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Downtown Los Angeles, Encino, Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks, Calabasas, Burbank, Glendale, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, Northridge, North Hollywood, Topanga, Canoga Park, Reseda, Valley Glen, Chatsworth, West Hills, Winnetka, Universal City, Silverlake, Echo Park, and many more.

References

1. Dutta P, Kumar Y, Babu AT, et al. Tirzepatide: A Promising Drug for Type 2 Diabetes and Beyond. Published online May 1, 2023. doi:https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.38379

2. Forzano I, Fahimeh Varzideh, Avvisato R, Jankauskas SS, Mone P, Santulli G. Tirzepatide: A Systematic Update. 2022;23(23):14631-14631. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232314631

3. Suyog Dutt Jain, Ramanand SJ, Ramanand JB, Akat PB, Patwardhan M, Joshi SA. Evaluation of efficacy and safety of orlistat in obese patients. 2011;15(2):99-99. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/2230-8210.81938

4. Sherman MM, Ungureanu S, Rey JA. Naltrexone/Bupropion ER (Contrave): Newly Approved Treatment Option for Chronic Weight Management in Obese Adults. P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management. 2016;41(3):164-172. Accessed June 27, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4771085/#:~:text=Patients%20treated%20with%20naltrexone%2Fbupropion,weeks%20of%20all%20the%20trials.

5. Ryan DH. Next Generation Antiobesity Medications: Setmelanotide, Semaglutide, Tirzepatide and Bimagrumab: What do They Mean for Clinical Practice? 2021;30(3):196-208. doi:https://doi.org/10.7570/jomes21033