Tirzepatide is a prescription injectable medication used as an adjunct to diet and exercise for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and for chronic weight management in adults who are obese or overweight with at least one weight-related condition.

It is a novel drug because it is the first in its class to act as a dual agonist for both the Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide (GIP) and Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors.

Key effects include:

• Improved Blood Sugar Control: It stimulates the pancreas to release insulin in a glucose-dependent manner, thereby reducing the amount of sugar the liver produces.
• Weight Loss: It slows down gastric emptying, reduces appetite, and promotes feelings of fullness, leading to decreased food intake.

Tirzepatide is administered as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection. Common side effects are primarily gastrointestinal, such as nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting, especially when starting the medication or increasing the dose.