Tirzepatide safety in type 2 diabetes: a disproportionality analysis of adverse events using the FDA FAERS database

This study evaluated adverse events reported with tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes and obesity, using real-world data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. A disproportionality analysis was conducted on reports from May 2022 to the fourth quarter of...

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Main Authors: Zhenpo Zhang, Jiangxiong Li, Jingping Zheng, Yankun Liang, Lin Ma, Ling Su
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Bioscientifica 2025-07-01
Series:Endocrine Connections
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Online Access:https://ec.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/ec/14/7/EC-25-0205.xml
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author Zhenpo Zhang
Jiangxiong Li
Jingping Zheng
Yankun Liang
Lin Ma
Ling Su
author_facet Zhenpo Zhang
Jiangxiong Li
Jingping Zheng
Yankun Liang
Lin Ma
Ling Su
author_sort Zhenpo Zhang
collection DOAJ
description This study evaluated adverse events reported with tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes and obesity, using real-world data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. A disproportionality analysis was conducted on reports from May 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2024. Reports were deduplicated, normalized using standardized medical terminology, and analyzed using four disproportionality analysis algorithms. Significant signals required meeting all four methods’ criteria with at least three cases. Among 20,350 adverse event reports (68.0% female; median age 50.4 years), 105 significant adverse events were identified. Common events included gastrointestinal disorders (nausea and diarrhea) and injection-site reactions. The strongest signals were injection-site coldness and belching. Known risks such as pancreatitis (190 cases) and hypoglycemia (115 cases) were confirmed. Novel signals included upper respiratory infections and postmenopausal hemorrhage. The median onset time was 26 days, with 50% of events occurring within the first month. Older adults (65 years or older) experienced earlier onset (12 versus 31 days, significant difference). This analysis is consistent with known gastrointestinal and pancreatic risks of tirzepatide from prior clinical studies and identifies potential new safety concerns, underscoring the need for vigilant monitoring, particularly during initial treatment phases.
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issn 2049-3614
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series Endocrine Connections
spelling doaj-art-fa3221a2ad1b4e858590e702793bdad92025-08-20T03:55:48ZengBioscientificaEndocrine Connections2049-36142025-07-0114710.1530/EC-25-02051Tirzepatide safety in type 2 diabetes: a disproportionality analysis of adverse events using the FDA FAERS databaseZhenpo Zhang0Jiangxiong Li1Jingping Zheng2Yankun Liang3Lin Ma4Ling Su5College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaZhuhai Jiuhuatong Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd, Zhuhai, Guangdong, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaThis study evaluated adverse events reported with tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes and obesity, using real-world data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. A disproportionality analysis was conducted on reports from May 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2024. Reports were deduplicated, normalized using standardized medical terminology, and analyzed using four disproportionality analysis algorithms. Significant signals required meeting all four methods’ criteria with at least three cases. Among 20,350 adverse event reports (68.0% female; median age 50.4 years), 105 significant adverse events were identified. Common events included gastrointestinal disorders (nausea and diarrhea) and injection-site reactions. The strongest signals were injection-site coldness and belching. Known risks such as pancreatitis (190 cases) and hypoglycemia (115 cases) were confirmed. Novel signals included upper respiratory infections and postmenopausal hemorrhage. The median onset time was 26 days, with 50% of events occurring within the first month. Older adults (65 years or older) experienced earlier onset (12 versus 31 days, significant difference). This analysis is consistent with known gastrointestinal and pancreatic risks of tirzepatide from prior clinical studies and identifies potential new safety concerns, underscoring the need for vigilant monitoring, particularly during initial treatment phases.https://ec.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/ec/14/7/EC-25-0205.xmltirzepatidetype 2 diabetespharmacovigilancefaers databaseadverse drug eventsreal-world evidence
spellingShingle Zhenpo Zhang
Jiangxiong Li
Jingping Zheng
Yankun Liang
Lin Ma
Ling Su
Tirzepatide safety in type 2 diabetes: a disproportionality analysis of adverse events using the FDA FAERS database
Endocrine Connections
tirzepatide
type 2 diabetes
pharmacovigilance
faers database
adverse drug events
real-world evidence
title Tirzepatide safety in type 2 diabetes: a disproportionality analysis of adverse events using the FDA FAERS database
title_full Tirzepatide safety in type 2 diabetes: a disproportionality analysis of adverse events using the FDA FAERS database
title_fullStr Tirzepatide safety in type 2 diabetes: a disproportionality analysis of adverse events using the FDA FAERS database
title_full_unstemmed Tirzepatide safety in type 2 diabetes: a disproportionality analysis of adverse events using the FDA FAERS database
title_short Tirzepatide safety in type 2 diabetes: a disproportionality analysis of adverse events using the FDA FAERS database
title_sort tirzepatide safety in type 2 diabetes a disproportionality analysis of adverse events using the fda faers database
topic tirzepatide
type 2 diabetes
pharmacovigilance
faers database
adverse drug events
real-world evidence
url https://ec.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/ec/14/7/EC-25-0205.xml
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