Zepbound Approved to Treat Sleep Apnea [Video]

The weight loss drug Zepbound, generically known as tirzepatide, is also now an approved medication to treat obstructive sleep apnea, per a Food and Drug Administration Dec. 20 press release.

The federal agency authorized the use of the Eli Lilly & Co. weight loss drug for “treatment of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity.” In addition to the GLP-1 prescription, the FDA suggests that users reduce their calorie intake and increase their exercise.

Sleep apnea “occurs when a person’s upper airway becomes blocked, causing pauses in breathing during sleep,” per the FDA.

“Today’s approval marks the first drug treatment option for certain patients with obstructive sleep apnea,” said Sally Seymour, M.D., director of the Division of Pulmonology, Allergy, and Critical Care in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, per the press release. “This is a major step forward for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.”