Mounjaro vs. Ozempic for weight loss

In this article:

• What’s the difference between Mounjaro and Ozempic?
• Mounjaro vs. Ozempic side effects
• Mounjaro vs. Ozempic cost and insurance coverage
• How much weight can you lose on Mounjaro?
• How much weight can you lose on Ozempic?
• Is Mounjaro better than Ozempic for weight loss?

In this article

• What’s the difference between Mounjaro and Ozempic?
• Mounjaro vs. Ozempic side effects
• Mounjaro vs. Ozempic cost and insurance coverage
• How much weight can you lose on Mounjaro?
• How much weight can you lose on Ozempic?
• Is Mounjaro better than Ozempic for weight loss?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic (semaglutide) are two commonly prescribed injectable medications for managing blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ozempic for additional indications that Mounjaro hasn’t been approved for. While Mounjaro and Ozempic have some similarities, they are not exactly the same, especially when it comes to weight loss, which is an indication that’s not approved by the FDA but is a common off-label use.

What’s the difference between Mounjaro and Ozempic?

Mounjaro and Ozempic are both brand-name drugs, with no generics currently available. (It’s important to note that compounded semaglutide or compounded tirzepatide products are not FDA approved.) Both Ozempic and Mounjaro are injected under the skin once a week, starting with a low dose and gradually increasing as instructed by the healthcare provider. 

Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide. For weight loss, Ozempic works by mimicking a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). It is part of the GLP-1 agonist, class of drugs. 

Mounjaro contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. Although it mimics GLP-1, it also activates an additional hormone pathway: glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). As such, Mounjaro is classified as a GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist. People often talk about how these drugs help reduce food noise, which is persistent thoughts about food and cravings that can make dieting and weight loss difficult. 

Although Mounjaro and Ozempic are both FDA approved to treat adults with Type 2 diabetes, Ozempic has two additional FDA-approved uses: cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and prevention of further kidney problems and cardiovascular death in adults with Type 2 diabetes and kidney disease.

Compare Mounjaro vs. Ozempic key differences
	Mounjaro	Ozempic
Brand or generic (manufacturer)	Brand (Eli Lilly)	Brand (Novo Nordisk)
Active ingredient	Tirzepatide	Semaglutide
Drug class	GIP/GLP-1 agonist	GLP-1 agonist
Uses	Type 2 diabetes  Off-label for weight loss	Type 2 diabetes Cardiovascular risk reduction (reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or heart-related death) Kidney disease Off-label for weight loss
Dosage	The starting dose is 2.5 mg injected subcutaneously (under the skin) once a week. The prescribing healthcare provider may gradually increase the dose up to a maximum of 15 mg weekly.	The starting dose is 0.25 mg injected subcutaneously (under the skin) once a week. The prescribing healthcare provider will gradually increase the dose up to a maximum of 2 mg weekly.
How supplied	Prefilled single-dose injection pen Single-dose vial	Prefilled multi-dose injection pen

Mounjaro vs. Ozempic side effects

Mounjaro and Ozempic have similar side effects, and many are gastrointestinal side effects. Common side effects may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, indigestion, and stomach pain. Side effects may vary by dosage. For example, some people may tolerate lower doses well but experience more side effects with higher doses.

Allergic reactions may occur in rare cases. If you have hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, you should get emergency medical help. 

Other serious side effects of both drugs may include pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), kidney problems, gallbladder problems, and severe stomach issues. 

Mounjaro vs. Ozempic side effects comparison
	Mounjaro		Ozempic
Side effect	Applicable?	Frequency	Applicable?	Frequency
Nausea	Yes	12%	Yes	16%
Vomiting	Yes	5%	Yes	5%
Constipation	Yes	6%	Yes	5%
Diarrhea	Yes	12%	Yes	9%
Indigestion	Yes	8%	Yes	N/A
Stomach pain	Yes	6%	Yes	7%

Frequency is not based on data from a head-to-head trial. This may not be a complete list of adverse effects that can occur. Please refer to your healthcare provider to learn more.

Source: DailyMed (Mounjaro), DailyMed (Ozempic)

Mounjaro vs. Ozempic cost and insurance coverage

If you are paying without insurance, which is more expensive? The price can vary based on many factors, such as the pharmacy location, the dose, and the quantity of medication you are getting. 

You can always use a SingleCare discount to save money on your prescriptions. You can also check the manufacturer’s website for each drug to explore other savings options. Here are some examples of out-of-pocket prices with SingleCare coupons:

• Without insurance, a one-month supply (28 days) of Mounjaro 5 mg costs about $1,486. Using a free SingleCare coupon can bring the price down to as low as $869, a savings of $617 per month.
• Paying without insurance, a 28-day supply of Ozempic (2 mg/3mL pen) costs about $1,379, but a SingleCare coupon could lower the price to about $822, saving you $557 per month.

Does insurance cover Mounjaro?

Mounjaro coverage varies by plan. The best way to find out if your plan covers Mounjaro is to contact your health insurance company directly and ask about coverage. You can also check Mounjaro’s manufacturer website to find out more about coverage details. According to AARP, about 90% of insurance and Medicare prescription plans cover Mounjaro for Type 2 diabetes. Because Mounjaro is not FDA-approved for weight loss, however, commercial insurance plans (such as BCBS) may or may not cover this medicine for this purpose (but will often cover it for diabetes). Medicare prescription plans do not cover medications used for weight loss. Medicaid coverage varies by state, so if you have Medicaid, you can contact your state’s Medicaid agency or website, or even ask your pharmacist for coverage and copay details. 

Does insurance cover Ozempic?

As with Mounjaro, Ozempic coverage will vary by plan. You can contact your specific commercial insurance or Medicare prescription plan for more information about coverage and costs. Many commercial insurance plans will cover Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes, but not for weight loss, and Medicare does not cover medication used for weight loss. Since Medicaid coverage is different in each state, you can contact your state’s Medicaid agency or pharmacist for more information on Ozempic coverage. 

How much weight can you lose on Mounjaro?

In a 2022 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), people were assigned to use Mounjaro (tirzepatide) 5, 10, or 15 mg, or placebo (inactive medicine). The results found the following: 

• People who used 5 mg of Mounjaro lost 15% of their body weight.
• People who used 10 mg lost 19.5% of their body weight.
• People who used 15 mg lost 21% of their body weight.
• People who used a placebo lost 3% of their body weight.

How much weight can you lose on Ozempic?

In a 2021 clinical trial published in the NEJM, people took either 2.4 mg of semaglutide or a placebo. Note that Ozempic’s highest dose is 2 mg, so the 2.4 mg dose used was semaglutide as the brand-name Wegovy. The active ingredient in Wegovy is the same as Ozempic, but the dose studied in this clinical trial was slightly higher than the highest dose of Ozempic. People who used semaglutide lost 15% of body weight after 68 weeks, while those who used a placebo lost about 2.4%. Again, since the dose studied was slightly higher than Ozempic’s highest dose, individual results may vary.

Is Mounjaro better than Ozempic for weight loss?

As discussed above, both Mounjaro and Ozempic are effective for reducing body weight and long-term weight management. But which is better? 

A 2024 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine looked at electronic health records of people who used Mounjaro (tirzepatide) or Ozempic (semaglutide) and found that tirzepatide was more effective for weight loss than semaglutide. 

Later in 2024, the results of the SURMOUNT-5 trial were published. The study compared people who used Zepbound (which contains the same active ingredient as Mounjaro) with Wegovy, which contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic. So, although the study compared Zepbound to Wegovy, it is almost the same as comparing Mounjaro to Ozempic, except that the highest dose of Wegovy (2.4 mg) is slightly higher than Ozempic’s highest dose of 2 mg. The study found that over a 72-week period, people who used tirzepatide lost 20.2% of body weight, compared to 13.7% for those who used semaglutide.

Bottom line

Although Mounjaro may be more effective for weight loss, both Mounjaro and Ozempic provide significant benefits. Healthcare providers typically recommend lifestyle changes, such as a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, along with weight loss medication. These changes can greatly help with the effectiveness of your treatment. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice about Mounjaro and Ozempic.