Tirzepatide With B12: Benefits & Considerations

Key Takeaways:

• Tirzepatide with B12 is sometimes combined as a weekly injection for weight loss.

• Vitamin B12 supplementation may reduce fatigue if you have a deficiency.

• Tirzepatide with B12 is a compounded medication, so it’s not FDA-approved.
  

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro^®, Zepbound^®) is a once-weekly diabetes and weight loss medication. Compounded tirzepatide is sometimes combined with vitamin B12 to provide additional health benefits.

We’ll cover the benefits and risks of compounded tirzepatide with B12 to help you decide if the combo is right for you.

Tirzepatide B12 injections combine compounded tirzepatide with vitamin B12 into one weight loss injection.

Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Mounjaro^® — which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. It’s also the active ingredient in Zepbound^®, which is FDA-approved to help people with overweight or obesity lose weight.

Compounded tirzepatide contains tirzepatide. It’s for people with unique needs, like needing an allergen removed or a personalized dose. Some forms of compounded tirzepatide contain vitamin B12 as an additional supplement.

Compounded medications aren’t FDA-approved.

→ Learn more: What Is Compounded Tirzepatide?

There isn’t any research on how tirzepatide with B12 works, but we know how the ingredients work separately.

Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. This means the medication targets two hormone receptors, both of which are involved in appetite regulation.

Research sponsored by Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro^® and Zepbound^®, shows that tirzepatide works for weight loss by reducing:

• Hunger

• Food cravings

• A tendency to overeat

Tirzepatide can also slow the speed food moves from your stomach to your intestines (delayed gastric emptying) to make you feel fuller for longer.

All of these changes can help you eat more nutritious foods and stick with healthy portion sizes, which can promote weight loss.

Tirzepatide is also prescribed alongside eating healthy foods and doing more movement as part of a wider weight loss treatment plan to help you lose weight and improve your health.

More Eli Lilly-sponsored research found that people taking once-weekly tirzepatide injections lost an average of about 21 percent of their body weight over 72 weeks.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 — aka cobalamin — is a water-soluble vitamin. It’s found in foods like:

• Eggs

• Dairy

• Fish

• Meat

• Fortified cereals and nutritional yeast

You can also find vitamin B12 in supplement form as capsules, tablets, and injections.

Vitamin B12 plays a role in everything from red blood cell formation to energy production.

People with obesity tend to have lower vitamin B12 levels than those without obesity. But research on vitamin B12 as a weight loss treatment is inconclusive.

Some research suggests that B12 could improve metabolic syndrome — a combination of health issues including abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, high blood pressure (hypertension), and high cholesterol.

But some studies show that oral B12 supplements don’t make that much of a difference in body mass index (BMI) or body fat. And there’s not much research into B12 injections on the whole.

→ Read: Is BMI Accurate?

More research and placebo-controlled clinical trials are needed to find out the benefits of tirzepatide with B12.

If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, B12 supplements could improve some of the symptoms, which include:

• Low energy

• Fatigue

• Low exercise tolerance

• Shortness of breath

In theory, this could help you on your weight loss journey. With higher energy levels, you may find it easier to stick to healthy foods, make nutritious meals, and move your body more.

If you don’t have a vitamin B12 deficiency, a B12 supplement might not do much for you.

You’re more at risk of a B12 deficiency if you:

• Eat a vegan or vegetarian diet

• Have obesity

• Are older

• Have taken metformin or proton pump inhibitors for a long time 

• Have a gastrointestinal disorder, like Crohn’s disease or celiac disease

A blood test can check if you have low B12 levels and whether you could benefit from supplementation.

→ Learn more: Vitamin B12 for Weight Loss

The risks of tirzepatide with B12 are unclear. Tirzepatide with B12 is a compounded medication. It isn’t FDA-approved, so the FDA hasn’t verified that it’s safe or effective.

Some compounded medications can contain contaminants or the wrong amount of tirzepatide.

If you’re considering a compounded medication, make sure you get it through a reputable pharmacy or telehealth platform — and only with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.

For tirzepatide alone, common side effects of Mounjaro^® and Zepbound^® include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Constipation

• Diarrhea

• Stomach pain

A healthcare provider will look at your weight, health, and medical history to determine if tirzepatide is safe for you.

As for B12, the risks are relatively low. B12 supplements are considered safe, even at high doses.

Side effects of B12 injections include:

• Diarrhea

• Feeling swollen

• Muscle weakness (rare)

• Confusion (rare)

• Headache (rare)

That said, check with your healthcare provider before taking any new supplement. B12 injections are only available with a prescription, so a healthcare provider can make sure they’re right for you before prescribing them.

You might have seen tirzepatide with B12 as a potential weight loss treatment, but more research is needed on the B12 side of things.

Here’s what to keep in mind if you’re considering it:

• Tirzepatide can promote weight loss. Mounjaro^® and Zepbound^® can reduce hunger and cravings to help you eat nutritious foods and stick to healthy portion sizes.

• B12 might reduce fatigue. If you have a deficiency, B12 supplements may reduce fatigue, making it easier to stick to healthy habits. It might not make a difference if you don’t have a B12 deficiency, though.

• Tirzepatide B12 shots are compounded. This means they’re not FDA-approved. Make sure to get compounded medications on prescription from a reputable company.

Other weight loss medications are out there. If you’re interested in other options through Hers, a licensed healthcare provider can go over your health history and let you know which weight loss treatments can help you reach your goals.

Get answers to frequently asked questions about tirzepatide with B12.

What are the side effects of tirzepatide compounded with B12?

It’s unclear what the side effects of tirzepatide compounded with B12 are. Compounded medications aren’t FDA-approved or tested for safety. But side effects of Zepbound^® (which contains tirzepatide) can include nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

Can I take tirzepatide without B12?

Yes, you can take tirzepatide without B12. If eligible, you can get Mounjaro^®, Zepbound^®, or possibly compounded tirzepatide without B12 to help with weight loss and weight management.

Who is compounded tirzepatide with B12 for?

Compounded tirzepatide with B12 is for people with obesity or overweight with a weight-related condition who also have a vitamin B12 deficiency or who may benefit from vitamin B12 supplementation to help offset any potential fatigue from tirzepatide. Compounded medications are for people with unique needs, like needing a personalized dose or a medication made without an allergen. They’re not FDA-approved.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards.