{"id":633074,"date":"2025-08-06T13:48:39","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T17:48:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=633074"},"modified":"2025-09-02T10:11:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T14:11:32","slug":"switching-from-zepbound-to-mounjaro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/switching-from-zepbound-to-mounjaro\/","title":{"rendered":"What to know about switching from Zepbound to Mounjaro"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zepbound<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> Mounjaro<\/span><\/a> are prescription once-weekly injections that lower blood sugar levels and help with weight management. Though they have the same active ingredient, tirzepatide, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved them for different indications. Zepbound is\u00a0 approved<\/span> to improve <\/span>obstructive sleep apnea<\/span><\/a> (OSA) and<\/span> weight loss<\/span><\/a> in adults with obesity, whereas Mounjaro is approved for the treatment of<\/span> Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since these drugs are both<\/span> tirzepatide<\/span><\/a> injections sold under different names, some people may wonder whether it\u2019s possible to switch from Zepbound to Mounjaro for better insurance coverage or other reasons. Here\u2019s what you need to know about the potential benefits of and process for discontinuing Zepbound to start Mounjaro.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you switch from Zepbound to Mounjaro?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Switching from <\/span>Zepbound<\/span><\/a> to Mounjaro is possible, but only if your healthcare provider recommends doing so, and if you have health conditions that mean the medication will be covered by an insurance plan. Both Zepbound and Mounjaro are prescription drugs, so you would need to get a new prescription for the new medication\u2014it\u2019s not something a patient can request at the pharmacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe key factor determining this switch is often whether the patient has a diagnosis of <\/span>Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a>,\u201d says<\/span> Jodie Pepin<\/span><\/a>, Pharm.D<\/span>., clinical pharmacy program director at<\/span> Harbor Health<\/span><\/a> in Austin, Texas. If you do <\/span>have diabetes<\/span><\/a>, and your prescriber supports switching to Mounjaro, it\u2019s essential to follow their instructions for how and when to stop Zepbound and start Mounjaro.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Wegovy vs. Mounjaro dosage chart: How to switch medications<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What are the benefits of switching from Zepbound to Mounjaro?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The benefits when comparing <\/span>Zepbound to Mounjaro<\/span><\/a> are limited to insurance coverage and cost. Switching will not lead to greater <\/span>weight loss potential<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>better insulin sensitivity<\/span><\/a>. That\u2019s because Zepbound and Mounjaro are the same medication, says <\/span>Mir Ali<\/span><\/a>, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. They are both tirzepatide injections sold under different brand names for different purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, sometimes switching medications has benefits, even when both drugs are the same ingredient sold under a different brand name. In this case, the benefits of switching are potential insurance coverage and lower out-of-pocket costs for people with Type 2 diabetes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Insurance coverage<\/span><\/h3>\n

Some health insurance companies are dropping Zepbound from their formularies (lists of covered drugs). Dr. Pepin says if you have Type 2 diabetes but your current medication is Zepbound, switching to Mounjaro may offer better insurance coverage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Drug coverage varies by policy, but many insurance plans, including Medicare, do not cover weight loss drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMounjaro requires the diagnosis of diabetes in order to be covered by insurance,\u201d Dr. Ali says. This also applies to <\/span>Medicaid<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Medicare<\/span><\/a>, which often cover Mounjaro for Type 2 diabetes but not for weight loss treatment, which is an off-label use.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cost<\/span><\/h3>\n

Zepbound and Mounjaro are expensive medications, but Mounjaro has a slightly lower retail price. The average monthly retail price of Zepbound is <\/span>$1,512<\/span><\/a>, compared to <\/span>$1,482<\/span><\/a> for Mounjaro. Drug prices fluctuate, however, and vary by pharmacy and location. Savings cards and patient assistance programs can help you save.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For cash payers, a <\/span>SingleCare Prescription Discount Card<\/span><\/a> can reduce the cost of Zepound to $950 per month and Mounjaro to $872, depending on your choice of pharmacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Aside from insurance coverage and cost, there are no benefits to switching from Zepbound to Mounjaro. These drugs are the same in the following ways:<\/span><\/p>\n