Zepbound Bloating

Zepbound (tirzepatide) is an injectable medication approved to treat obesity in adults. It’s similar to the diabetes drug Mounjaro. Both drugs use the same hormones to increase insulin production and decrease gastric emptying. With Mounjaro, the drug’s effect helps lower blood glucose levels.

Zepbound slows the exit of food out of the stomach through a process called “delayed gastric emptying.” This helps patients feel full longer, so they eat less.

Zepbound is meant to be used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise. It’s approved for people with obesity, defined on the Zepbound label as those with a body-mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. It can also be used by those who are overweight (BMI of 27 or greater) and have serious weight-related health problems. It’s not intended to help otherwise healthy people lose small amounts of weight.

Does Zepbound cause bloating?

Yes, Zepbound may cause bloating and other gastrointestinal side effects. The drug’s warning label mentions related side effects like constipation, abdominal pain, flatulence and abdominal distension.

Zepbound acts by simulating two hormones that affect how food is digested in the stomach. Zepbound is a “glucagon-like peptide-1” agonist (GLP-1) and a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). These hormones stimulate the production of insulin.

More specifically:

• GLP-1 causes an increase in insulin, helping control blood sugar.
• GIP stimulates a portion of the brain that creates a feeling of fullness, so patients don’t get as hungry.

Zepbound also slows the exit of food from the stomach. This delayed gastric emptying means food takes longer to digest. These elements work together to reduce the amount of food someone eats. But, food that sits in the stomach for long periods of time may release gas, causing bloating and abdominal pain or distention.

GLP-1 agonists appear to act on the nerves that stimulate the stomach to contract, moving food out of the stomach and into the intestines. They reduce the movement of the muscles, so food moves out more slowly. In combination with the action on the “satiety center” of the brain, this makes patients feel full longer and eat less.

Zepbound bloating may be an indication of a serious gastrointestinal condition like stomach paralysis or a blockage. It’s a commonly reported side effect in user messaging boards dedicated to the drug. Many users have commented on how quickly the bloating occurred. 

Of course, user comments aren’t an indicator of severity. Bloating isn’t listed as an official side effect on the Zepbound label, and neither is it reported on as an adverse reaction to the FDA. This doesn’t mean it should be considered a non-issue, however. 

Bloating, like other common side effects of Zepbound, should go away within a few weeks or months if not linked to a more serious health problem. Bloating can, however, be a symptom of a more serious adverse effect of Zepbound.

Adverse effects of Zepbound

Bloating is a symptom of serious conditions, discussed in detail below, that may result from tirzepatide use. If bloating continues in connection with the use of Zepbound, users should see their healthcare provider immediately.

Gastroparesis

When the muscles of the stomach stop moving, it’s called gastroparesis or stomach paralysis. Gastroparesis can become permanent if not treated right away. Complications of gastroparesis include:

• Nutritional problems, such as malnutrition, dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
• Intestinal blockages, which can require surgery to correct
• Hypoglycemia due to changes in digestion

In the worst cases, gastroparesis leads to complete intestinal shutdown. Gastroparesis has become the subject of numerous lawsuits because it isn’t listed on the prescribing information as a possible side effect of GLP-1 drugs.

Ileus

Also called paralytic ileus, ileus is caused by loss of movement in the small intestines. This movement, called peristalsis, is what pushes food and waste through the body. Ileus can be caused by inflammation or irritation in the intestinal lining. When movement stops, the contents of the intestines stay put and can cause blockages, infections and tissue damage.

Treatment for ileus can be invasive. Your healthcare provider needs to get your intestines moving again. You may need:

• To fast
• IV nutrition, to replace fluids while you fast
• Medications called prokinetics to restart your intestinal functions
• A nasogastric tube to keep your stomach drained
• A surgery called an ostomy to bypass and remove any obstructions

Like gastroparesis, ileus wasn’t listed as a possible adverse effect on the initial prescribing information. The label has been updated to include a small mention of ileus in the postmarketing experience section.

Bloating is an early symptom of gastroparesis and ileus. If you’re using Zepbound or another GLP-1 medication and you develop persistent bloating, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, you should contact your healthcare provider at once. These may be signs of serious gastrointestinal issues.

There is no Zepbound class action lawsuit. But Zepbound, like Mounjaro, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. GLP-1 lawsuits have been filed against Eli Lilly — the manufacturer of Mounjaro and Zepbound — for negligence and failure to warn of potential hazards.

There is a multidistrict litigation (MDL) involving all GLP-1 medications in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. District Court. Most pending federal cases have been consolidated into this MDL. As of October 2024, there were 1,090 cases pending.

Motley Rice attorneys are handling Mounjaro and Zepbound lawsuits and other cases related to the MDL. If you believe you’ve been harmed by Zepbound, contact Motley Rice for a review of your claim.

Zepbound and Mounjaro use the same active ingredient but aren’t identical medications. Tirzepatide, a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, is the active ingredient in both medications. 

Zepbound is designed to be used as a weight-loss drug for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, or a BMI of 25 and at least one other obesity-related health condition.

Mounjaro is intended for the management of type 2 diabetes. It’s not for people with type 1 diabetes.

Although Zepbound and Mounjaro have the same chemical compound, they’re prescribed for different purposes and were approved by the FDA to treat different medical conditions. Using a drug for a condition it’s not approved for is called “off-label” use.

The medical attorneys at Motley Rice have represented thousands of patients harmed by dangerous medications. We know that, depending on your situation, your knowledge of your medications or your loved one’s medications may be limited.

If you believe a medicine was responsible for injuries suffered by you or a loved one, the attorneys at Motley Rice have the resources to thoroughly investigate.

They can:

• Identify potentially harmful medicines
• Review whether the medicine hurt you
• Review the medicine manufacturer’s compliance with FDA regulations
• Examine the adequacy of the manufacturer’s warning about potential side effects
• Recognize other issues that could affect your potential claim

Motley Rice attorneys are heavily involved in the GLP-1 litigation against the makers of Zepbound and related drugs, such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.

Learn more about our law firm’s experience with lawsuits pertaining to medical drugs.

Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting with your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor's advice can result in injury or death. Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic remain approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.