ZhTirzepatide is a once-weekly prescription injection developed by Eli Lilly for weight management in eligible adults. In Singapore, treatment begins with a medical assessment to establish whether it suits your health needs and how it can fit into a longer-term approach to managing your weight.
This guide explains who may be suitable, what the clinical evidence shows, how much treatment costs and what to expect at Edwin Lim Medical Aesthetic Clinic. It also covers potential health benefits beyond weight loss, nutrition and muscle preservation, side effects, and maintaining your progress if treatment is stopped.
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Tirzepatide works by activating the receptors for two hormones involved in appetite and blood glucose regulation: glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Acting on both pathways makes it a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. These signals help the body regulate food intake and support insulin release when blood glucose is elevated.
During treatment, these effects may translate into feeling less hungry and becoming satisfied with smaller portions. Tirzepatide also slows the rate at which food leaves the stomach, which can contribute to a feeling of fullness after eating. Together, these effects can make it easier to reduce food intake and follow a reduced-calorie eating plan without experiencing the same level of hunger.
Weight loss develops as calorie intake decreases over time, although the response varies between individuals. Treatment is used alongside dietary changes and physical activity, with the dose and ongoing treatment plan reviewed according to your progress and how well you tolerate the medication.
Yes. The tirzepatide KwikPen is registered in Singapore as a prescription-only medicine for weight management in eligible adults and for treating insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes under its approved prescribing conditions. At Edwin Lim Medical Aesthetic Clinic, we supply the Singapore-registered KwikPen, with DKSH Singapore as the product registrant.
A medical consultation is required before prescribing. When arranging treatment, our team can also confirm stock availability for the pen strength your doctor recommends, as registration does not mean every strength is always in stock.
At Edwin Lim Medical Aesthetic Clinic, treatment is available at Changi City Point and Lucky Plaza, Orchard. The first appointment is an in-person medical consultation to assess suitability. If treatment is appropriate and prescribed, injection training and the first injection can take place during the same visit.
To arrange a consultation or check appointment availability, contact our clinic at https://edwinlimclinic.sg/contact-number/
For adult weight management, Singapore’s approved prescribing criteria use your initial body mass index (BMI), together with any weight-related medical conditions. Treatment is indicated alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for adults with:
These conditions include high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Meeting the BMI threshold is the starting point for assessment; your medical history and current medicines also influence whether treatment is suitable.
Yes. Diabetes is not required for the approved adult weight-management indication. Adults without diabetes may be considered if they meet the BMI and health criteria above. For a BMI of 27 to below 30 kg/m², at least one weight-related medical condition is required; the doctor also assesses medical history, current medication and whether the likely benefits justify the risks.
Singapore health guidance recognises that metabolic health risks can increase at lower BMI levels in Asian populations. A BMI of 23.0–27.4 kg/m² is associated with moderate health risk, while a BMI of 27.5 kg/m² or above indicates high risk. These categories help identify people who may benefit from further health assessment, but they do not replace the medicine’s approved prescribing criteria. A BMI of 23 kg/m² alone therefore does not establish eligibility for tirzepatide.
Your doctor will consider existing conditions and medicines alongside your weight-management goals. Some health issues call for closer monitoring, while others may make a different treatment more appropriate. Sharing your medical history helps the consultation address both the possible benefits and the risks relevant to you, rather than relying on BMI alone.
If tirzepatide is unsuitable, the consultation can include a discussion of other treatment options. Learn more about prescription weight-loss medications in Singapore at https://edwinlimclinic.sg/comprehensive-guide-to-weight-loss-medications-in-singapore/
Tirzepatide has produced substantial average weight loss in clinical trials, but the results need to be read in context. The dose, length of treatment and health of the participants all matter, and a study average cannot predict exactly how much weight you will lose. The following results show what was observed in different trial settings.
In SURMOUNT-1, adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related complication, received tirzepatide or placebo for 72 weeks alongside lifestyle intervention. Participants did not have diabetes. Average reductions from starting body weight were:
| Weekly Study Dose | Average Weight Reduction at 72 Weeks |
|---|---|
| Tirzepatide 5 mg | 15.0% |
| Tirzepatide 10 mg | 19.5% |
| Tirzepatide 15 mg | 20.9% |
| Placebo | 3.1% |
The analysis accounted for outcomes regardless of whether participants discontinued treatment. These figures describe the studied maintenance doses over 72 weeks; they are not results from the 2.5 mg starting dose or expectations for the first few weeks.
SURMOUNT-2 studied adults with a BMI of at least 27 kg/m² who also had type 2 diabetes. At 72 weeks, average weight reductions were 12.8% with tirzepatide 10 mg and 14.7% with 15 mg, compared with 3.2% with placebo, in an analysis that also accounted for treatment discontinuation. This was a separate study population, so the differences from SURMOUNT-1 are not a direct comparison between otherwise identical patients.
The first four weeks use the starting dose, allowing treatment to begin gradually before the next prescribed dose. This early period is an opportunity to assess how you tolerate the medicine, rather than a deadline for achieving a particular weight-loss target. Changes in appetite and body weight vary between individuals, so the first pen does not establish your eventual response.
The headline trial results above were measured after 72 weeks, not after one course of four injections. During follow-up, your doctor reviews your progress, side effects and ability to continue treatment before deciding on the next step. Increasing the dose solely to pursue a trial average is not the aim.
Tirzepatide acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors, while semaglutide acts on the GLP-1 receptor. Both are used in prescribed treatment plans, but their doses are not interchangeable. A direct clinical trial helps explain how their average weight-loss results compare in a defined patient group.
SURMOUNT-5 directly compared tirzepatide with semaglutide in adults with obesity who did not have type 2 diabetes. Participants received their maximum tolerated weekly dose of tirzepatide 10 mg or 15 mg, or semaglutide 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg. Average weight reduction at 72 weeks was 20.2% with tirzepatide and 13.7% with semaglutide.
The study was open-label, meaning participants and investigators knew which treatment was being used. Its findings apply to the doses and population studied, rather than to lower-dose semaglutide diabetes treatment or every possible semaglutide regimen. A higher average reduction in a trial does not establish which medicine is the best fit for an individual patient.
When choosing between treatments, your doctor considers medical history, the treatment indication, previous response to medication and side effects. Affordability and the ability to continue treatment also matter. If a patient is already responding well to a tolerated treatment, a larger average weight reduction in another medicine’s trial is not, by itself, a reason to switch.
Researchers have studied tirzepatide in people with several obesity-related conditions, including prediabetes, cardiovascular disease, heart failure and obstructive sleep apnoea. The results help explain why treatment decisions may consider health outcomes beyond body weight. However, benefits demonstrated in a particular patient group should not be assumed to apply to everyone, and research findings are not automatically additional approved indications in Singapore.
SURPASS-CVOT compared tirzepatide with dulaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, meaning disease related to fatty deposits in the arteries. Tirzepatide met the study’s criterion for being no worse than dulaglutide on the combined outcome of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke. It did not demonstrate a statistically significant advantage on that primary outcome, so the study should not be interpreted as proving superior heart protection.
SUMMIT studied people with obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. In this form of heart failure, the heart can still pump out a normal proportion of the blood it holds, but it has difficulty relaxing and filling properly. Tirzepatide reduced the combined risk of cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure compared with placebo and improved health status. These findings concern people with an existing form of heart failure; they do not establish that everyone taking tirzepatide for weight loss will avoid heart disease. Cardiovascular benefits also differ between medicines, so findings for semaglutide should not automatically be attributed to tirzepatide.
The three-year SURMOUNT-1 analysis studied participants with both obesity and prediabetes. During 176 weeks of treatment, fewer participants developed type 2 diabetes with tirzepatide than with placebo. This supports a benefit in delaying progression in the population studied, rather than a guarantee of permanent diabetes prevention. Blood glucose monitoring and the wider treatment plan remain important.
SURMOUNT-OSA found that tirzepatide reduced the frequency of breathing disturbances during sleep in adults with obesity and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnoea over 52 weeks. Patients with this condition should continue follow-up with their treating clinician and should not stop prescribed positive airway pressure treatment solely because they have lost weight or started medication.
At Edwin Lim Medical Aesthetic Clinic, medication starts from $598 before GST for the 2.5 mg pen containing four weekly doses. Prices vary according to the prescribed pen strength, so this starting price should not be taken as the cost of every subsequent four-week treatment period.
| Item | Price or Arrangement |
|---|---|
| 2.5 mg pen containing four weekly doses | $598 before GST |
| Other pen strengths | Price depends on prescribed pen strength |
| Initial in-person consultation | $60 before GST, charged separately |
| Follow-up consultation | $60 before GST per consultation |
| Injection training | Included |
Your ongoing cost depends on the pen strength prescribed and how often consultations are needed. Blood tests are ordered only when clinically indicated; if testing is recommended, ask about the additional charges before proceeding. When comparing prices, check the strength and number of weekly doses supplied, together with any separate consultation fees.
The four-dose KwikPen supplied by our clinic provides four prescribed weekly injections, covering a four-week treatment period. This is the quantity used for the starting medication price above. The prescribed pen strength determines the dose delivered each week, and prices vary by strength. A four-week supply should not be confused with an exact calendar month.
Treatment at our clinic begins with an in-person consultation. We assess your BMI, blood pressure, past medical history and current medication, then discuss what you hope to achieve and whether tirzepatide is an appropriate option. This gives you an opportunity to understand the expected benefits, possible side effects and follow-up arrangements before deciding how to proceed.
Blood tests are not routinely required for every patient. Your doctor orders them when the assessment identifies a clinical reason for further investigation. Bring an up-to-date medication list and any relevant medical reports so that existing conditions and treatment can be considered accurately.
Yes. After the in-person consultation, suitable patients who are prescribed treatment can receive injection training and their first injection at the clinic on the same day. This allows you to learn how to use the pen and ask questions before continuing treatment at home. If the assessment identifies a need for further investigation or clarification of your medical history, your doctor may advise completing that first.
The local prescribing schedule begins with 2.5 mg once weekly for four weeks, followed by 5 mg once weekly. If further increases are needed, they are made in 2.5 mg steps after at least four weeks on the current dose. The recommended adult maintenance doses are 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg weekly, with a maximum of 15 mg weekly.
Progression beyond 5 mg is not automatic. Your doctor considers the trend in weight and appetite, any side effects, your nutritional intake and the treatment goals before deciding whether a higher dose is appropriate. Reaching the highest dose is not a treatment goal in itself, and doses should not be increased independently.
Persistent nausea, vomiting, dehydration or difficulty eating enough can prompt an earlier review and reconsideration of a planned dose increase. If weight loss slows, the decision also takes account of treatment consistency, eating patterns, activity and any relevant changes in health measures. Maintaining weight already lost can be a useful outcome; a short plateau does not automatically mean that a higher dose is needed.
Tirzepatide is injected into the tissue just beneath the skin, usually in the abdomen or thigh. The back of the upper arm is another option when the injection is given by someone else. Injection sites should be rotated with each dose. The weekly injection can be given at any time of day, with or without meals.
Injection training is included when treatment is prescribed. During the same-day treatment visit, we explain how to use your prescribed pen and follow the instructions supplied with it. Contact the clinic if any step is unclear before a subsequent injection. Training and the manufacturer’s instructions remain important even if you have used another injectable medicine before.
The first follow-up takes place after you complete the first pen. We review your progress and any side effects before discussing the next prescription. For patients progressing satisfactorily without side effects on a stable treatment plan, subsequent routine consultations may be spaced to every three to four months, according to individual needs.
This routine interval does not replace earlier contact when symptoms arise or a dose change is being considered. Patients can contact the clinic through WhatsApp between appointments, and any change in dose should be agreed with the doctor. Urgent symptoms require prompt medical assessment rather than waiting for a message reply.
Learn more about Dr Edwin Lim’s personalised medical weight-loss program at https://edwinlimclinic.sg/personalised-medical-weight-loss-program-in-singapore/
Reduced appetite can make it easier to eat smaller portions, but the aim is to lose excess weight while maintaining strength and adequate nutrition. Weight loss can include lean tissue as well as fat, and very low food intake can make it harder to obtain enough protein and other nutrients. Preserving muscle therefore deserves attention from the beginning of treatment, not only after reaching a target weight.
Include protein-containing foods such as fish, eggs, tofu, beans, lean meat or dairy products within balanced meals, alongside vegetables, fruit and other fibre-rich foods. The appropriate amount of protein depends on your needs and medical history, particularly if you have kidney disease. Persistent difficulty eating enough should be discussed with your doctor rather than treated as a desirable sign that the injection is working.
Regular resistance exercise, adapted to your ability, helps support muscle strength during weight loss. This can include exercises using weights, resistance bands or your own body weight, together with aerobic activity you can sustain. Protein intake and strength training work together; eating more protein alone does not replace exercise.
Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation and abdominal discomfort can occur, particularly when starting treatment or increasing the dose. Digestive symptoms often improve over time, but persistent symptoms should be reviewed rather than simply tolerated until the next appointment. Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea can cause dehydration and affect kidney function; seek medical advice promptly if you cannot keep fluids down.
Smaller meals, eating slowly and stopping when comfortably full may help when nausea or bloating occurs. Large, fatty meals can worsen symptoms for some people, so notice which foods affect you. Maintain fluid intake; if constipation develops, increase dietary fibre gradually rather than making a sudden large change. These measures are for mild symptoms. Persistent vomiting, difficulty keeping fluids down or significant abdominal pain need medical assessment, and a planned dose increase should be discussed if symptoms have not settled.
Tirzepatide must not be used by someone with a known allergy to tirzepatide or an ingredient in the medicine. Other conditions need individual assessment rather than being treated as automatic exclusions. Tell your doctor about previous pancreatitis, severe stomach-emptying problems, gallbladder disease, diabetic eye disease, and kidney or liver problems, as these may affect the treatment choice or monitoring required. Pregnancy and related precautions are explained below.
A complete medication list is also important. Using tirzepatide with insulin or a sulphonylurea increases the risk of low blood glucose, and your doctor may need to adjust your diabetes treatment. Because tirzepatide slows stomach emptying, it can also affect how some oral medicines are absorbed; do not change or stop those medicines without advice.
Tirzepatide should not be used during pregnancy. Discuss pregnancy plans before starting treatment so your doctor can advise when to stop and how to manage your care. If you become pregnant during treatment, stop using it and contact your doctor. Breastfeeding also requires a separate discussion before treatment is prescribed.
If you take an oral contraceptive, discuss whether additional or alternative contraception is needed before starting tirzepatide and when increasing the dose. Slower stomach emptying can affect absorption, so this should be addressed before treatment rather than left until a routine follow-up.
Before any procedure involving general anaesthesia or deep sedation, tell the treating team that you use tirzepatide. Its effect on stomach emptying may alter their preparation instructions. Follow their individual advice about your medication and fasting.
Non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a condition involving reduced blood supply to the optic nerve that can cause sudden, often painless visual loss. It is different from diabetic retinopathy. The European Medicines Agency has classified NAION as a very rare adverse effect of semaglutide, but this classification should not be treated as an established risk estimate for tirzepatide.
Observational research and case reports have raised a possible association involving tirzepatide. These findings do not establish that tirzepatide causes NAION, and its specific risk remains uncertain. One large observational study grouped semaglutide and tirzepatide together, which limits the conclusions that can be drawn about tirzepatide alone. Tell your doctor about previous NAION or other significant eye disease when discussing treatment.
Sudden loss of vision or rapidly worsening eyesight requires immediate medical assessment, even if there is no pain. Do not wait for a routine appointment or WhatsApp reply; the cause needs to be assessed promptly.
Stop using the medicine and seek urgent medical help if you develop:
Do not wait for your next consultation or a WhatsApp reply when these symptoms occur.
Sudden loss of vision or rapidly worsening eyesight also requires immediate assessment, as explained above. The treating clinician will advise on further doses after evaluating the symptoms.
Weight maintenance should be part of the discussion before treatment is stopped. Some patients can maintain a lower weight with ongoing lifestyle support, while others need continued medication or another treatment approach. Planning the next stage helps you respond to changes in appetite or weight without assuming that reaching a target marks the end of care.
Tirzepatide helps regulate appetite while it is being used. After withdrawal, that support is removed and hunger may become more difficult to manage, making previous portions or eating patterns easier to return to. Weight regain is not simply a sign of poor willpower, and it does not mean that everyone will regain the same amount.
SURMOUNT-4 studied withdrawal in adults with obesity or overweight with complications, without diabetes. Participants who reached randomisation had lost an average of 20.9% of their starting weight during 36 weeks of tirzepatide treatment at a maximum tolerated dose of 10 mg or 15 mg weekly. Over the following 52 weeks, those continuing treatment lost a further 5.5%, while those switched to placebo gained 14.0%.
Those later changes were measured from body weight at week 36. The 14.0% increase does not mean that only 14% of the previously lost weight returned. These averages illustrate the risk of regain; they do not predict an individual patient’s outcome.
Before stopping, agree a follow-up plan with your doctor. Continue a sustainable eating pattern with adequate nutrition, protein-containing meals and fibre-rich foods, alongside regular physical activity and resistance exercise suited to your ability. The eating and exercise habits developed during treatment should remain part of care after the injections end.
Monitor your weight consistently and pay attention to a sustained upward trend, together with changes in hunger or portion sizes. Arrange a review if weight is steadily returning so that the plan can be reassessed. Nutritional or behavioural support may help, but these measures cannot guarantee that regain will be prevented.
For some patients, continuing medication is part of maintaining the health benefits achieved. The decision depends on your response, side effects, medical needs, preferences and ability to continue treatment. If stopping is necessary, your doctor can discuss alternatives and ongoing monitoring. There is no established tapering or extended-interval injection schedule that reliably prevents regain, so do not change the dose or frequency independently.
An in-person consultation at Edwin Lim Medical Aesthetic Clinic can help you understand whether tirzepatide suits your health needs and what starting treatment would involve. We have locations at Changi City Point and Lucky Plaza, Orchard.
Arrange an in-person medical consultation at https://edwinlimclinic.sg/contact-number/
