Dual pathway weight loss with GLP-1/GIP
Tirzepatide. A once weekly injection targeting both the GLP-1 and GIP receptor pathways for appetite and blood sugar support.
What to expect
Our medically supervised weight management program may include medication that acts on both the GLP-1 and GIP receptor pathways when clinically appropriate. These pathways are involved in appetite, digestion, nutrient response, and glucose dependent insulin signaling. Medication is used alongside nutrition, activity, body composition tracking, and ongoing clinical monitoring.
- GLP-1 receptor activity can slow digestion, reduce appetite, and support blood sugar regulation
- GIP receptor activity adds a second glucose dependent signaling pathway involved in insulin response and nutrient metabolism
- Given as a once weekly injection with provider directed dose changes
- Ask your provider whether SECA body composition scans are included in your plan
- Prescribed by the medical team after your consultation, with ongoing follow up
Provider note: Pricing varies by prescribed dose and formulation. Final eligibility, medication selection, dose, availability, and pricing are confirmed after medical evaluation. A consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
Can be paid monthly. Price depends on the prescribed dose. Office and telehealth visits are $100.
See every dose and monthly price
GLP-1 versus GLP-1/GIP, an honest comparison
Single pathway GLP-1 medications and GLP-1/GIP dual agonists get talked about interchangeably, but they do not work the same way. Here is a side by side based on head to head trial data, including where the two are closer than you would think.
| Option | What it means |
|---|---|
| Receptors it acts on | One versus two. The single pathway option acts on the GLP-1 receptor. The dual option acts on GLP-1 and GIP receptors together. |
| Appetite and metabolism | Both slow stomach emptying and lower appetite signals. The dual option adds GIP, which affects insulin response and fat storage, so the two pathways tend to hit appetite and metabolism harder. |
| Results in trials | In the head to head SURMOUNT-5 trial, tirzepatide averaged about 20.2% body weight loss at 72 weeks and semaglutide about 13.7%. SURMOUNT-1 saw up to about 20.9% at the top dose. Averages, not promises. |
| Side effects | The same gastrointestinal pattern. In SURMOUNT-5, fewer people stopped tirzepatide for GI side effects, 2.7%, than semaglutide, 5.6%. |
| Who tends to choose it | People aiming for larger weight loss, or who plateaued on a single pathway medication. Decided with your provider based on your health and response. |
Provider note: More receptor pathways do not automatically make one option the better fit. Clinical eligibility, medication history, tolerability, availability, and provider judgment decide the right path.
What we go over together
- These programs require a consultation and are not appropriate for everyone
- Nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, fatigue, headache, reflux, or injection site reactions can occur
- Oral birth control effectiveness can be reduced during initiation and dose increases, so ask your prescriber about backup contraception
- Discuss pregnancy or breastfeeding, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, severe gastrointestinal disease, diabetes medications, kidney problems, mood history, or MTC and MEN2 before treatment
- Seek urgent care for severe or persistent abdominal pain, severe dehydration, or signs of an allergic reaction
What a listing means
This information is educational and does not establish that a medication treats, cures, or prevents a disease. Availability depends on clinical appropriateness and provider judgment, and a consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
Your prescription, delivered to your door
When medication is prescribed, it is prepared and dispensed by a state licensed Texas pharmacy that compounds patient specific prescriptions under Section 503A, with both sterile and non sterile compounding services.
Your medication ships directly from the pharmacy to your door. Shipping is included, and orders typically arrive within 3 to 5 business days after pharmacy processing.
Patient specific care under Section 503A
Federal law permits qualifying state licensed pharmacies to prepare medication for an individually identified patient pursuant to a valid prescription when Section 503A requirements are met. These patient specific medications do not go through the FDA premarket approval process used for commercially manufactured drugs. Instead, the pharmacy operates under state pharmacy oversight and applicable federal compounding requirements.
Your provider determines whether a compounded formulation is clinically appropriate after looking at your medical history, available treatments, expected benefits, potential risks, and alternatives.
What this page is based on
- Wilding JPH, et al. Once Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1). N Engl J Med. 2021;384(11):989-1002.
- Jastreboff AM, et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-1). N Engl J Med. 2022;387(3):205-216. Mean weight change of -15.0%, -19.5%, and -20.9% at the 5, 10, and 15 mg doses versus -3.1% placebo at 72 weeks.
- Aronne LJ, et al. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-5). N Engl J Med. 2025;393(1):26-36. Tirzepatide -20.2% versus semaglutide -13.7% mean weight change at 72 weeks; gastrointestinal events were the most common side effect in both groups.
Questions, answered
What is a GLP-1/GIP dual agonist?
It is a prescription weight loss medication that activates two gut hormone receptors at once, GLP-1 and GIP, instead of just one. Tirzepatide, sold as Zepbound for weight management and Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, is the medication in this class. Working both pathways tends to lower appetite and improve how the body handles blood sugar and fat, which is why dual agonists have produced some of the largest average weight loss numbers in clinical trials. At JM it is prescribed only after a clinical evaluation.
GLP-1 or GIP, what is the difference?
Both are natural hormones your gut releases after you eat. GLP-1 mainly curbs appetite, slows stomach emptying, and helps control blood sugar, and it is the pathway behind semaglutide. GIP works alongside it, affecting insulin response and how the body stores and uses fat. A medication that targets GLP-1 alone uses one of these levers; a dual agonist uses both.
Is this like Mounjaro or Zepbound?
Yes. Mounjaro and Zepbound are both brand names for tirzepatide, the GLP-1/GIP dual agonist. Zepbound is approved for weight management and Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, but the active medication is the same. What gets prescribed and how it is dosed is decided during your evaluation.
Does GLP-1/GIP work better than GLP-1 alone?
In the head to head SURMOUNT-5 trial, tirzepatide averaged about 20% body weight loss at 72 weeks versus about 14% for semaglutide, a real difference in average results. That said, better depends on the person: tolerance, health history, coverage, and how you respond all matter, and many people do very well on a GLP-1 alone. A provider weighs those factors with you rather than assuming one medication fits everyone.
What are the side effects?
The most common are gastrointestinal: nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and sometimes vomiting, usually mild to moderate and worst while the dose is being increased. Starting low and stepping up slowly helps most people manage them. Less common but more serious risks exist, which is why these are prescription only and require a clinical evaluation and ongoing follow up.
Start with a consult
$100 consultations, same day and next day in most cases.