Zepbound Approved to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that involves repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. People with OSA face an increased risk of car crashes, attention and memory problems, mood changes, heart failure, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, other health problems, and death Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source . 

Having obesity makes a person more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea, though not everyone with OSA has obesity Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source . Among those who have both OSA and obesity, losing weight may help treat their OSA symptoms Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source . For this reason, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved weight loss drug Zepbound to treat OSA in adults Trusted Source U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. View Source .

What is Zepbound?

Zepbound is a brand name for injectable weight loss drug tirzepatide, which is made by Eli Lilly. Zepbound is the first medication for obstructive sleep apnea to receive FDA approval Trusted Source U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. View Source . This breakthrough for sleep apnea treatment received FDA approval in December 2024 and can be prescribed to adults who have both obesity and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea Trusted Source U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. View Source . Zepbound is intended to be used by people who are also willing to reduce their food intake and exercise more Trusted Source Eli Lilly and Company View Source .

Mounjaro is another brand name for tirzepatide, but Zepbound and Mounjaro have been FDA approved for different purposes. While Zepbound is approved for treating adults with just obesity or both obesity and obstructive sleep apnea Trusted Source Eli Lilly and Company View Source , Mounjaro is approved for treating adults with type 2 diabetes Trusted Source Eli Lilly and Company View Source .

What Does Zepbound Do?

Zepbound promotes weight loss for sleep apnea by impacting digestion-related hormones in a way that makes a person feel less hungry and want to eat less food. By virtue of reducing body weight, Zepbound improves obstructive sleep apnea Trusted Source U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. View Source . 

Specifically, the drug connects to hormone receptors in the intestines that are designed to receive glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) hormones Trusted Source U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. View Source . For this reason, it’s called a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist or GLP-1/GIP drug.

How Do People Use Zepbound?

People use Zepbound by injecting it into their body once a week just beneath the skin on the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, changing the injection location each time Trusted Source Eli Lilly and Company View Source . A doctor will show them how to inject Zepbound before they do it themselves for the first time, but the medication also comes with instructions. 

Once a person’s primary care doctor or sleep specialist determines they are a good candidate for the drug, the healthcare provider then decides what dosage of Zepbound a person should take. Zepbound is available in six dosage amounts ranging from 2.5 mg to 15 mg per 0.5 mL. Each amount comes as a single-dose unit in the form of a pen or vial Trusted Source Eli Lilly and Company View Source .

If a person doesn’t feel comfortable injecting themselves with Zepbound, they can have a family member, caregiver, or friend do the injection for them.

While on Zepbound, people are supposed to eat fewer calories and spend more time exercising Trusted Source Eli Lilly and Company View Source . Since Zepbound helps with obstructive sleep apnea by promoting weight loss, that weight loss must be maintained for the OSA benefits to continue Trusted Source American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research. View Source .

Is Zepbound Good for Sleep Apnea?

Research suggests that Zepbound is good at treating sleep apnea. Two randomized, controlled studies conducted with 469 participants found that after taking Zepbound for one year, participants had both lost weight and experienced a reduction in sleep apnea symptoms Trusted Source U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. View Source . 

Study participants experienced 25 fewer breathing interruptions during each hour of sleep on average after a year on Zepbound compared to people taking a placebo. They also lost 45 pounds on average, or 18% of total body weight Trusted Source Eli Lilly and Company View Source .

Does Zepbound Cure Sleep Apnea?

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) emphasizes that Zepbound may not cure obstructive sleep apnea in everyone who receives the injection for the purpose of treating the disorder Trusted Source American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research. View Source . In studies of the drug, 42% of people on Zepbound and no other sleep apnea treatment either achieved remission of OSA or no longer had symptoms after one year Trusted Source Eli Lilly and Company View Source . The remaining participants had their OSA severity reduced, but still had the disorder.

For some people, factors other than body weight, like jaw and face shape, play a role in OSA. As a result, Zepbound may reduce obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, but not eliminate them completely Trusted Source American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research. View Source . In these cases, people may want to both take Zepbound and use another OSA treatment option, like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which is the most commonly prescribed therapy for OSA.

The Zepbound studies also had some participants both take the drug and use CPAP therapy together for a year. People on both Zepbound and CPAP therapy experienced an even greater reduction in breathing interruptions and greater weight loss than those on Zepbound alone Trusted Source Eli Lilly and Company View Source .

Who is Approved for Zepbound?

As of December 2024, Zepbound is FDA approved in the U.S. for adults who have both obesity and moderate to severe sleep apnea Trusted Source U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. View Source . Zepbound was approved as a weight loss drug for adults with obesity in November 2023 Trusted Source Eli Lilly and Company View Source .

Does Zepbound Have Side Effects?

The most common side effects of Zepbound include Trusted Source Eli Lilly and Company View Source :

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Stomach pain
• Skin-related reactions to the injection
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Allergic reactions, like a rash or fever
• Burping
• Hair loss
• Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Less commonly, Zepbound may cause pancreatitis, gallstones, low blood sugar, kidney problems, or suicidal thoughts in some people. The medication may also negatively affect breathing if a person on it goes under sedation or anesthesia. Studies of rats have shown that Zepbound can cause thyroid tumors, but whether this also happens in humans is unknown Trusted Source U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. View Source . 

Who Should Not Take Zepbound?

Zepbound hasn’t been approved for people who have mild obstructive sleep apnea Trusted Source U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. View Source . Because Zepbound is an obesity medication, people who have obstructive sleep apnea but do not have obesity cannot take it Trusted Source American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research. View Source . Zepbound is only approved for adults at this point in time, so children should not take it. Anyone who has medullary thyroid cancer or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 or a family history of either disorder shouldn’t take Zepbound. 

People with any of the following factors should have a discussion with their doctor before trying Zepbound, because they may face increased risks while on the drug: Trusted Source U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. View Source

• A severe allergy to tirzepatide or other ingredients in the Zepbound injection
• Type 2 diabetes
• Pancreatitis
• Gallstones
• Kidney disease
• Depression
• Upcoming surgery
• Stomach or digestion problems
• Pregnancy, or a plan to become pregnant or breastfeed

How Much Does Zepbound Cost?

The monthly cost of Zepbound can vary depending on the dose a person is prescribed, the type of health insurance coverage they have, and whether or not they have the Eli Lilly Savings Card Trusted Source Eli Lilly and Company View Source . People with insurance that covers Zepbound may pay as little as $25 per month or per every three months for the drug. Those who do not have insurance or who have insurance that doesn’t cover Zepbound could pay the full list price, which is about $1,060 per fill, along with any pharmacy fees.

Will Medicare Approve Zepbound for Sleep Apnea?

Medicare does not yet cover Zepbound for sleep apnea, because the drug is brand new, but it may in the future Trusted Source New York Times The New York Times is an American newspaper based in New York City with worldwide influence and readership. View Source . Currently, Medicare doesn’t provide coverage for weight loss drugs that are solely used to help a person lose weight. However, Medicare may decide to cover Zepbound since it helps a person lose weight in order to treat OSA.

How Long Can You Stay on Zepbound?

The FDA and Eli Lilly have not set a limit for how long a person can be on Zepbound. In research studies on Zepbound for obstructive sleep apnea, study participants stayed on the drug for a full year. Trusted Source Eli Lilly and Company View Source

Still have questions? Ask our community!

Join our Sleep Care Community — a trusted hub of sleep health professionals, product specialists, and people just like you. Whether you need expert sleep advice for your insomnia or you’re searching for the perfect mattress, we’ve got you covered. Get personalized guidance from the experts who know sleep best.