You’ve been dieting and exercising to try to get the body you’ve always wanted, but you can’t seem to budge the numbers on the scale. When what you’re doing isn’t working well enough to produce the results you desire, it may be time to consider medical weight loss solutions. One option that may be appropriate for you is tirzepatide—an FDA-approved medication that may help you get down to your goal weight. Talk to a medical weight loss provider at WildBerryMD in Tucson to find out if you may be eligible for tirzepatide.

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A Quick Look at Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide is an injected medication that was first used primarily to treat type 2 diabetes. It’s a combination medication with a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Although tirzepatide was initially approved by the FDA to improve blood sugar control in patients with diabetes, it was later FDA-approved for chronic weight management in patients with or without diabetes. It works by lowering blood glucose, reducing hunger signals, and helping you feel more full for a longer time. Could it be right for you?

The Eligibility Criteria for Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide is generally prescribed for chronic weight management in people who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. However, even if your BMI is lower than 30, you might still be eligible. It can also be prescribed to people with a BMI of at least 27 who also have at least one weight-related health condition. A weight-related health condition is a health problem that can be better managed by losing weight. These include:

Diabetes
High cholesterol
Sleep apnea
High blood pressure

In addition to these eligibility criteria, good candidates for tirzepatide are those who understand that it’s necessary to continue making healthy dietary choices and exercising regularly; the medication is not intended to be a substitute for a healthy lifestyle.

Contraindications of Tirzepatide

A contraindication is a factor that may disqualify a patient from being eligible from using the medication, even if they otherwise meet the eligibility criteria. To safeguard your wellness, it’s important to fully disclose your health history (including your family medical history) to your medical weight loss provider. Some possible contraindications of tirzepatide can include:

Current, planned, or possible pregnancy
Breastfeeding
Pancreatitis
Kidney disease
History of severe depression with suicidal thoughts
Gastroparesis
Thyroid cancer
Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2
Type 1 diabetes
Diabetic retinopathy

It’s also important to understand that, as with all medications, there is the possibility of tirzepatide interacting with other drugs. In some cases, your doctor may need to adjust the dosage of other medications you may be taking, so be sure to fully disclose all of your prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

Let Us Help You on Your Weight Loss Journey

The friendly team at WildBerryMD in Tucson is here to help you achieve better health and self-confidence through effective medical weight loss solutions. We’ll thoroughly review your medical history to determine if tirzepatide or one of our other weight loss medications could be appropriate for you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.