What Color is Tirzepatide? Brand and Compounded Formulations

Key Takeaways:

• Tirzepatide is a clear, colorless to slightly yellow medication used to help with blood sugar management in people with type 2 diabetes or to aid weight loss when combined with healthy lifestyle changes.

• Compounded tirzepatide that includes vitamin B12 may appear tinted red or pink, depending on added ingredients and compounding practices.

• Cloudiness or visible particles are not normal and may indicate improper storage, mislabelling, contamination, or degradation.

• If you’re unsure whether it’s safe to take your tirzepatide, it’s a good idea to speak with your healthcare provider before taking it.
  

It’s important to always inspect your medications before use, and this step is extra important for medications that you inject. 

Tirzepatide is sold under the brand names Mounjaro^® and Zepbound^® in the United States. Mounjaro^® is FDA-approved to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels and is sometimes prescribed off-label to aid with weight loss. Zepbound^® is FDA-approved to help aid with weight loss in combination with exercise and a healthy diet. 

Tirzepatide normally has a clear to slightly yellow color or a slightly reddish color if it’s mixed with vitamin B12.

Keep reading to learn more about what color tirzepatide should be and what changes in the color may mean.

Tirzepatide has become a popular weight loss medication and treatment to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. 

It isn’t available in a generic version in the United States. FDA-approved versions include the brands Mounjaro^® and Zepbound^®.

For FDA-approved versions of tirzepatide, the medication should be clear and colorless or slightly yellowish.

When viewed in the pen or vial, the liquid should resemble clear water, with no:

• Cloudiness

• Visible particles

• Signs of being frozen

Compounded tirzepatide is prepared by compounding pharmacies when FDA-approved formulations are unavailable or when patients require customized formulations. For example, this group may include people who are allergic to one of the non-medical ingredients.

Tirzepatide appeared on the FDA’s shortage list until 2024 due to its high demand. During this period, companies other than the ones that hold the drug patent were able to produce the medication to help meet the shortage.

Tirzepatide isn’t currently in short supply, though it may be legally compounded under specific circumstances. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, so the FDA recommends staying vigilant when buying them.

If your product is reddish pink, it may mean that there’s vitamin B12 in it. Vitamin B12 is sometimes added to compounded versions of tirzepatide for people who have a vitamin B12 deficiency. 

Tirzepatide compounded with vitamin B12 often appears:

• Red

• Reddish-pink

• Dark pink

This discoloration is due to the natural reddish-pink color of vitamin B12. In these formulations, a red color doesn’t automatically indicate a problem. Your doctor or pharmacist should alert you in advance if your medication contains vitamin B12. 

Tirzepatide is usually clear or only slightly yellow. It may be reddish-pink if vitamin B12 is added. Inspecting the color of your medication can help identify problems with the medication, such as:

• Improper storage conditions

• Exposure to extreme heat or freezing

• Chemical degradation

• Contamination

• Additional ingredients

• Mislabeling

It’s important to never use tirzepatide if it appears cloudy or has solid pieces in it.

Unfortunately, there’s been a rise in the number of cases of counterfeit tirzepatide being sold in the United States, often imported illegally from overseas. Along with visually inspecting your medication, it’s important to make sure that the medication is produced by a trusted source. 

Improperly storing a medication can potentially lead to changes in its composition. For example, certain ingredients may turn from liquid to solid if the temperature becomes too low. 

Tirzepatide requires specific storage conditions:

• Refrigerate between 2–8ºC (36–46ºF)

• Protect from light by leaving it in its container

• Make sure it’s never frozen

It’s okay to leave tirzepatide at room temperature for short periods (fewer than 21 days) as long as the temperature doesn’t exceed 30ºC (86ºF). 

You shouldn’t use your medication if it's been exposed to temperatures above this.

Changes to your medications, such as the following, can suggest contamination:

• Cloudiness

• Particles

• Color shifts

For medications not sold under the FDA-approved brand names, it can also suggest that the medication contains additional ingredients or a completely different active ingredient.

When you inject tirzepatide, it’s important to:

1. Follow the instructions that accompany your medication.

2. Inspect the medication visually before using it and make sure it appears clear and colorless to slightly yellow if it’s branded.

3. Avoid using it if you see solid objects or discoloration.

4. Only administer tirzepatide as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

5. Inject it below your skin (subcutaneously) in your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.

6. Rotate injection sites with each dose.

Every medication comes with some risk of side effects. The most common side effects of tirzepatide tend to be mild. These side effects include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Decreased appetite

• Abdominal pain

• Upset stomach

Tirzepatide falls into a group of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists. These medications primarily aid weight loss by slowing the movement of food through your digestive tract. Side effects are often related to this delayed emptying of your stomach (gastric emptying). 

Rarer but serious risks of tirzepatide include:

• Hypoglycemia, especially when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas

• Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis)

• Hypersensitivity reaction 

• Kidney injury

• Gastrointestinal disease

• Gallbladder disease

• Diabetic retinopathy

• Potential increased risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, which has been reported in animal clinical trials

It’s important to seek immediate emergency medical care for severe abdominal pain or signs of an allergic reaction.

Adverse events can be reported through the FDA MedWatch Program.

Doctors often recommend trying to lose weight through lifestyle changes before using medications for weight loss. Lifestyle changes you can try include:

• Eating a healthy diet with an emphasis on nutritious and minimally processed foods

• Increasing your exercise levels

• Getting plenty of sleep

• Decreasing stress levels

• Minimizing consumption of alcohol

Learn more about how to lose weight.

Tirzepatide may be a powerful tool for chronic weight management when lifestyle changes alone aren’t effective. However, it’s important to remember that tirzepatide is still meant to be combined with regular exercise and a healthy diet for the best results.

Tirzepatide is a popular medication that has helped many people with their weight loss journeys. However, there are other medications that can also help with weight loss. 

Semaglutide is another popular GLP-1 receptor agonist that is FDA-approved for weight loss and for managing blood sugar levels for people with type 2 diabetes. Both medications can potentially help you improve glycemic control (blood sugar levels) and support weight management. 

If you try one of these medications and it isn’t effective, your doctor may recommend trying the other. 

In a 2025 study published in the New England journal of Medicine, researchers compared the effectiveness of these two medications for weight loss in people with obesity. The researchers found that tirzepatide was the superior treatment after 72 weeks.

However, the study was funded by Eli Lilly, the producer of both branded versions of tirzepatide available in the United States. Semaglutide is produced by its competitors. 

Learn more about tirzepatide and semaglutide. 

Tirzepatide should be clear or slightly yellow. Compounded versions of tirzepatide may be slightly red or pink if vitamin B12 is added. 

Off-color tirzepatide can suggest it’s counterfeit, has other substances mixed in, or is contaminated. It’s always best to consult your healthcare provider if you notice color changes. 

You should never inject tirzepatide if you notice solid objects or if the medication has previously been frozen, or appears cloudy. 

What color is tirzepatide supposed to be?

FDA-approved tirzepatide should be clear and colorless or very slightly yellow with no particles or solid objects in it. It should not be cloudy. 

Can I use tirzepatide if it looks cloudy?

No, cloudiness or visible particles mean the medication should not be used.

What Color Is Tirzepatide With B12?

A pink or red color may be normal for tirzepatide with B12 from compounding pharmacies. It’s always important to confirm what color your medication should be with a healthcare professional before using it.

Is compounded tirzepatide FDA-approved?

No, compounded versions of tirzepatide or other medications are not FDA-approved, though they may be legally prepared under certain conditions. For example, you may need a compounded version if you have an allergy to one of the non-medical ingredients.