{"id":627692,"date":"2024-04-05T15:45:10","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T19:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=627692"},"modified":"2025-02-19T16:07:56","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T21:07:56","slug":"mounjaro-samples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/mounjaro-samples\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get free Mounjaro samples"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Mounjaro (tirzepatide)<\/a> in 2022 to treat Type 2 diabetes, some people hailed the <\/span>GIP and GLP-1 medication<\/span><\/a> as the next great antidiabetic drug. And it\u2019s not just hype. Not only can it effectively lower blood sugar levels when paired with diet and exercise, but <\/span>clinical trials have suggested<\/span><\/a> it has <\/span>greater weight-loss potential than Ozempic<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like many brand-name drugs, Mounjaro can be pricey, but if you\u2019re on the fence and want to try it first, you might have that option. Here\u2019s how to get samples of Mounjaro for free and save money on a prescription.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to get free Mounjaro samples<\/span><\/h2>\n

Yes, it\u2019s possible to get free samples of <\/span>Mounjaro<\/span><\/a>, but it\u2019s not as simple as strolling into a local pharmacy and requesting them. Pharmaceutical companies typically only provide prescription drug samples to healthcare providers, who keep them in the office for patients to use. Keep in mind that a healthcare provider will only give you free samples if they think it would benefit your specific condition. Samples often come in a package of four 2.5 mg single-use pens, a one-month supply.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Healthcare providers who don\u2019t have samples on hand, or who run out, can request them from Eli Lilly USA, Mounjaro\u2019s manufacturer. The problem is that high demand has caused recent <\/span>shortages of certain Mounjaro dosages<\/span><\/a>, so the <\/span>sample request form<\/span><\/a> on Eli Lilly’s site excludes the drug from available options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If your healthcare provider is unable to get free Mounjaro samples from the manufacturer,\u00a0 it could be due to a shortage of the specific dose they\u2019re requesting. \u201cThe inventory for GLP-1 and GIP medications such as Mounjaro and Zepbound is constantly fluctuating due to high national demand and other factors,\u201d says Alex Foxman, MD, physician and medical director for <\/span>Achieve Health and Weight Loss<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: What to do during the Mounjaro shortage<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

How much does Mounjaro cost?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Free samples allow patients to try Mounjaro before paying its full price. Without health insurance coverage, Mounjaro\u2019s average cash price ranges from $1,400\u2013$1,500 for a pack of four 5 mg\/0.5 mL pens\u2014a 30-day supply. That\u2019s not a set price, though, and different pharmacies and locations may charge different amounts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some Medicare and insurance plans might help cover that cost\u2014but not always. <\/span>Sarah Bonza, MD<\/span><\/a>, founder of <\/span>Bonza Health<\/span><\/a>, says that she\u2019s sometimes had trouble getting providers to cover it, even for patients with diagnoses of diabetes and atrial fibrillation. Plus, insurance companies may also require providers to fill out an annual prior authorization, a process where the prescriber must send additional paperwork before the insurance company considers approving coverage. Per Bonza, that paperwork might include a documented Type 2 diabetes diagnosis, medical test confirmation, and evidence of persistently elevated <\/span>A1C<\/span><\/a> despite oral therapy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mounjaro alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n

Mounjaro is part of a family of antidiabetic and weight loss drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists that have gained popularity on social media. Even though it doesn’t currently have a generic version today, there are <\/span>a few alternatives<\/span><\/a> if your doctor doesn\u2019t think it\u2019s the right option.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Important note:<\/b> Like Mounjaro, many of these drugs are in demand\u2014and as of early 2024, some are in short supply, so they could be difficult to get.<\/span><\/p>\n

Zepbound<\/span><\/h3>\n

Another brand name for <\/span>tirzepatide<\/span>, Zepbound is essentially the same <\/span>drug<\/span> as <\/span>Mounjaro<\/span>. But while <\/span>Mounjaro<\/span> is approved for Type 2 diabetes, <\/span>Zepbound is approved and marketed specifically for weight loss<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s around the same <\/span>price<\/span> as <\/span>Mounjaro<\/span>, although <\/span>insurance<\/span> companies may only cover one or the other, depending on why it\u2019s prescribed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ozempic<\/span><\/h3>\n

Like Mounjaro, Ozempic has been approved by the FDA for Type 2 diabetes but has also shown weight loss benefits. Instead of tirzepatide, it\u2019s a semaglutide medication. Tirzepatide mimics both the GIP and GLP-1 hormones, while semaglutide just mimics GLP-1. Mounjaro has shown potential for greater weight loss in certain studies, but Ozempic has also been approved to lower the risk of stroke and heart failure in addition to treating Type 2 diabetes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wegovy<\/span><\/h3>\n

If Ozempic is the semaglutide version of Mounjaro, then <\/span>Wegovy<\/span><\/a> is the semaglutide version of Zepbound. This is the same prescription medication as Ozempic, but it\u2019s approved and marketed for weight loss instead of diabetes. Multiple brand names for one generic medication can complicate insurance claims, so make sure you talk everything through with your prescribing doctor and your insurance company.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Wegovy vs. Mounjaro: Differences, similarities & side effects<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Rybelsus<\/span><\/h3>\n

Rybelsus<\/span><\/a> is another semaglutide medication, but it\u2019s administered orally instead of injected like Ozempic and Wegovy. There\u2019s limited research on which method is more effective, but <\/span>some research suggests<\/span><\/a> oral administration could have fewer side effects than subcutaneous administration.<\/span><\/p>\n

Victoza<\/span><\/h3>\n

Victoza<\/span><\/a> (liraglutide) is another injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist, but one that you inject once a day instead of once a week. <\/span>Like Ozempic<\/span><\/a>, it\u2019s approved to treat Type 2 diabetes but may also decrease body weight. Plus, it can also <\/span>reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events<\/span><\/a> like heart attacks and strokes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Saxenda<\/span><\/h3>\n

Like Victoza, Saxenda also has the active ingredient liraglutide. The difference between Victoza and Saxenda is that Saxenda is approved and marketed for weight management instead of blood sugar control.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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