Can I take tirzepatide while pregnant or breastfeeding?

8.1 Pregnancy Pregnancy Exposure Registry There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to ZEPBOUND (tirzepatide) during pregnancy. Pregnant patients exposed to ZEPBOUND and healthcare providers are encouraged to register by calling 1-844-524-0039 or emailing at [email protected]. To learn more please call or visit https://pregnancyregistry.lilly.com/zepbound. Risk Summary Weight loss offers no benefit to a pregnant patient and may cause fetal harm. Advise pregnant patients that weight loss is not recommended during pregnancy and to discontinue ZEPBOUND when a pregnancy is recognized (see Clinical Considerations) . Available data with tirzepatide in pregnant patients are insufficient to evaluate for a drug-related risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Based on animal reproduction studies, there may be risks to the fetus from exposure to tirzepatide during pregnancy. In pregnant rats administered tirzepatide during organogenesis, fetal growth reductions and fetal abnormalities occurred at clinical exposure in maternal rats based on AUC.

Prescribing label, section “8.1 Pregnancy” (opening excerpt): Zepbound (subcutaneous), Eli Lilly and Company. Read the full section on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.

This quote is from the subcutaneous formulation label.

Tirzepatide is usually undetectable in breastmilk with subcutaneous doses of up to 5 mg. Furthermore, absorption by the infant is unlikely because it is probably partially destroyed in the infant’s gastrointestinal tract and poorly absorbed orally. If a mother requires tirzepatide, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding. Until more data become available, tirzepatide should be used with caution during breastfeeding, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Some experts recommend closely monitoring of infant growth and developmental milestones and the nutritional status of the lactating woman.[1]

“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Tirzepatide” (tirzepatide), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Tirzepatide while breastfeeding.

8.2 Lactation Risk Summary In a single-dose clinical lactation study, the concentration of tirzepatide in breast milk was found to be either undetectable or low compared to the maternal administered dose (see Data) . There are no available data on the effects of tirzepatide on the breastfed infant or on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for ZEPBOUND and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from ZEPBOUND or from the underlying maternal condition. Data Following subcutaneous administration of a single 5 mg dose to 11 healthy lactating adult females, the concentration of tirzepatide in breast milk was found to be undetectable (limit of detection in breast milk 4 ng/mL) in 164/171 samples assayed. The cumulative amount of tirzepatide detected in the remaining 7 breast milk samples over the 28-day sampling window was equivalent to less than 0.02% of the maternal administered dose, with the last measurable concentrations occurring 5 days post-dose. The AUC of tirzepatide in breast milk could not be calculated, due to insufficient quantifiable concentrations.

Prescribing label, section “8.2 Lactation”: Zepbound (subcutaneous), Eli Lilly and Company. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.

This quote is from the subcutaneous formulation label.