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DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1811649
Balancing Benefit and Risk: Continuing Tirzepatide after Allergic Reactions
Funding and Sponsorship None.
Abstract
Background
Tirzepatide is increasingly used for weight management in individuals with obesity. This case report explores the ethical, legal, and clinical considerations involved in continued tirzepatide therapy supported by antihistamine co-treatment after a mild allergic reaction in a patient with severe obesity.
Case Description
A 48-year-old woman with a body mass index of 38 kg/m2 developed a localized erythematous skin reaction at the injection site following dose escalation of tirzepatide, lasting 5 to 6 days after each injection. The reaction persisted despite the use of antihistamines. Motivated by the significant weight loss (12 kg in 6 weeks) and the mild nature of the reaction, a shared decision was made to continue therapy under close monitoring. This was later reconsidered when the benefit of weight loss ceased.
Conclusion
This case illustrates a cautious, ethically grounded approach to individualized therapy continuation following mild allergic reactions.
Keywords
obesity - GLP-1 RA therapy - drug allergy - side effects - tirzepatide - ethical practice - medicolegalAuthors' Contributions
Single author responsible for all aspects of the article.
Compliance with Ethical Principles
Prior ethical approval is not required for the publication of single cases.
Patient's Consent
The patient provided permission for the use of the clinical history and images for publication on an anonymous basis.
Publikationsverlauf
Artikel online veröffentlicht:
10. September 2025
© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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