Tirzepatide: better than Ozempic?
Tirzepatide is a promising new drug belonging to the GLP-1 and GIP Receptor Agonist classes of drugs that has recently been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It appears as an alternative to Ozempic (Semaglutide), which has rapidly become a popular weight-loss medication among celebrities, everyday people and bodybuilders alike.
In this article, we will explore Tirzepatide in great detail by delving into how it works, what its pros and cons are and how to use it effectively.
How does Tirzepatide work?
Tirzepatide works by stimulating both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, which are hormones that are naturally produced in the body to regulate blood sugar levels.
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) are incretin hormones that are released by the gut after a meal. They stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas, which helps to lower blood sugar levels, and they decrease appetite significantly.
This dual mechanism of action makes Tirzepatide incredibly effective at regulating blood sugar levels and promoting weight loss.
Benefits of Tirzepatide
The main benefit of Tirzepatide is its ability to effectively regulate blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. This can help to prevent long-term complications of diabetes such as kidney disease, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease. This benefit is also very helpful to bodybuilders who use Growth Hormone and any of its secretagogues (which are known to increase blood sugar levels significantly).
In addition, many users report that Tirzepatide allowed them to lose a ton of fat really quickly by suppressing their hunger, causing a constant feeling of satiety / fullness and eradicating their sugar cravings.
Studies have shown that GLP-1 Agonists like Tirzepatide can also provide the following benefits:
- Enhanced memory and cognition.
- Neuroprotection
- Cardioprotection through vasodilation.
- Renal protection.
The side-effects of Tirzepatide
The most common side effects reported in clinical trials include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. These side effects are usually mild to moderate and tend to improve over time.
Another potential risk of Tirzepatide is the risk of thyroid cancer. In animal studies, high doses of Tirzepatide have been shown to increase the incidence of thyroid cancer. However, no cases of thyroid cancer were reported in human clinical trials.
Tirzepatide vs Semaglutide
Semaglutide is the most popular GLP-1 Agonist, so how does Tirzepatide compare to it? Well, studies have shown that Tirzepatide is more effective at promoting weight loss, but it was used at a much higher dose (15mg Tirzepatide vs 2mg Semaglutide).
Anecdotal reports, however, show that most people prefer Tirzepatide, with many users who barely felt anything on Semaglutide reporting great results from Tirzepatide.
Tirzepatide protocol for bodybuilders
Tirzepatide should be injected subcutaneously once a week. The recommended starting dose of Tirzepatide is 5 mg once a week, and the dose can be increased to 10 mg once a week after 4 weeks if well-tolerated at 5mg.
Tirzepatide is a solid alternative to the now popular Semaglutide (Ozempic), offering arguably better results with the same risk profile. Will this become the next popular cutting drug? Only time will tell, but if you decide to use it, be sure not to rely on it too heavily during your cutting phases. Nothing can replace discipline.
