# Tirzepatide (Zepbound)

36 Hacker News commenters recommended Tirzepatide (Zepbound) and 4 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 12 of 13 months; owners who said how long report a median of 0.25 years (6 owners). It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Recommended for large weight loss, reduced appetite and cravings, and better blood markers, often with fewer side effects than semaglutide; the common caveat is nausea and digestive side effects.

## Why people recommend it

- Large weight loss reported (4 comments): "After losing a fair amount using tirzepatide, I did a repeat sleep test and my sleep doc gave me the green light to put the CPAP in storage." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50167442)) "my weight was in a much better region, lipid panels were much improved" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47685163)) "the massive improvement in my health that came with losing 100 pounds" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49076071))
- Reduces appetite and cravings (5 comments): "took me from always wanting food to actually being able to focus on other things fully" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48703138)) "Totally helped me reduce appetite driven snacking and eating." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47476489)) "the most striking effect was a marked decrease in cravings" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49249348))
- Fewer side effects than semaglutide (4 comments): "Tirzepatide works, for me and I recommend it over semaglutide" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47478357)) "found Tirzepatide strongly preferable to Semaglutide" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48711349)) "tirzepatide had far fewer side effects for me" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49313653))
- Improved blood markers and health (2 comments): "I've seen improvements in inflammation and other blood markers as well." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49316664)) "my weight was in a much better region, lipid panels were much improved" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47685163))

## What people warn about

- Nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea (3 comments): "I couldn't hit my macros on tirzepatide - couldn't get enough protein without feeling sick to my stomach." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47462870)) "after twelve weeks I had to stop because I felt a lot of nausea and tenderness in my upper abdomen" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48702412)) "it either gave me terrible diarrhea and sulfur burps, or it did nothing at all" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48141741))
- Does nothing for some users (2 comments): "it either gave me terrible diarrhea and sulfur burps, or it did nothing at all" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48141741)) "I am a rare nonresponder and have only gained weight." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48141887))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Ozempic](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ozempic.md): 52 recommend
- [Semaglutide](https://hackerapproved.com/p/semaglutide.md): 45 recommend
- [Retatrutide](https://hackerapproved.com/p/retatrutide.md): 23 recommend
- [Wegovy](https://hackerapproved.com/p/wegovy.md): 23 recommend
- [Zepbound](https://hackerapproved.com/p/zepbound.md): 21 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Tirzepatide (Zepbound)", https://hackerapproved.com/p/tirzepatide/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).