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Zepbound ® (tirzepatide) injection
2.5 mg/ 5 mg/ 7.5 mg/ 10 mg/ 12.5 mg/ 15 mg
This information is provided in response to your request. Resources may contain information about doses, uses, formulations and populations different from product labeling. See Prescribing Information above, if applicable.
Can adults with obesity or overweight taking Zepbound™ also take oral contraceptives?
Yes, however, people using oral contraceptives should be advised to switch to a nonoral contraceptive method or add a barrier method of contraception for 4 weeks after initiation and for 4 weeks after each dose escalation.
Section Heading
See important safety information, including boxed warning, in the attached prescribing information.
Use With Oral Contraceptives
Labeling Information
Tirzepatide is associated with a delay in gastric emptying, which may reduce the overall exposure of orally administered medications, including oral contraceptives.1 This effect on gastric emptying is also seen with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.2,3 The recommendation to add/switch contraceptive methods at initiation or escalation of the dose of tirzepatide is based on the results of a drug-drug interaction study. That study reflects the effect of a single 5 mg dose of tirzepatide on oral contraceptive absorption and does not take into account tachyphylaxis with repeated dosing.1
Tirzepatide delays gastric emptying, and thereby has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. Caution should be exercised when oral medications are concomitantly administered with tirzepatide.1
Hormonal contraceptives that are not administered orally should not be affected.1
Use of tirzepatide may reduce the efficacy of oral hormonal contraceptives due to delayed gastric emptying. This delay is largest after the first dose and diminishes over time.1
Patients using oral hormonal contraceptives should be advised to switch to a non-oral contraceptive method, or add a barrier method of contraception, for 4 weeks after initiation with tirzepatide and for 4 weeks after each dose escalation.1
Enclosed Prescribing Information
Reference
1Zepbound [package insert]. Indianapolis, IN: Eli Lilly and Company; 2023.
2Saxenda [package insert]. Plainsboro, NJ: Novo Nordisk Inc; 2022.
3Wegovy [package insert]. Plainsboro, NJ: Novo Nordisk Inc; 2021.
Date of Last Review: November 21, 2023