Prescription / GLP-1mounjaro price

Mounjaro Price, Dose and Side Effects (Tirzepatide)

Q: Is Mounjaro the same as tirzepatide?

Mounjaro contains tirzepatide as its only active ingredient, so the molecule is the same. But tirzepatide sold by a compounding pharmacy or labelled for research is not Mounjaro. It is not the FDA-approved product, and the FDA has not reviewed it for safety, effectiveness or quality.

Mounjaro price on 3 October 2026: $1,112.16 list, $499 self-pay, $25 with covering insurance. Label dosing, side effects, and how it differs from Zepbound.

Written bySebastian Hunter, Founder and EditorI'm a 42-year-old senior advisor and distance runner who came to peptides as a sceptic. I'm not a doctor: I read the research, run my own experiment and keep honest notes. Read full bio

Published September 30, 2026Updated October 3, 2026

The short version

Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection of tirzepatide, made by Eli Lilly. The FDA has approved it to improve blood-sugar control in type 2 diabetes, in adults and children 10 and older. It is also approved to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk. The same molecule is sold as Zepbound for weight management. As of 3 October 2026, the list price is $1,112.16 for a month of four pens and self-pay is $499. A covering commercial plan with Lilly's savings card can bring it to $25.

Mounjaro lists at $1,112.16 a month; self-pay is $499 at every strength, and a covering commercial plan with Lilly's card can cut it to $25 (3 October 2026).
It contains tirzepatide, the same molecule as Zepbound, but it is approved for type 2 diabetes, not for weight loss on its own.
It starts at 2.5 mg once weekly and can rise in 2.5 mg steps, at least four weeks apart, to 15 mg in adults or 10 mg in children.
Nausea, diarrhoea, reduced appetite, vomiting and constipation are the most common side effects.
It carries a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumours seen in rats, and must not be used with a personal or family history of MTC or MEN 2.

Mounjaro’s list price is $1,112.16 for a month of four pens, as of 3 October 2026, but what you pay depends mostly on your insurance. Without insurance, TrumpRx.gov lists it at $499 a month at any strength, ordered through LillyDirect, Lilly’s direct-to-patient service. A commercial plan that covers it can bring the cost to $25 with Lilly’s savings card.

Mounjaro is Eli Lilly’s brand name for tirzepatide, a once-weekly injection. The FDA has approved it, alongside diet and exercise, to improve blood-sugar control in adults and children 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes. It is also approved to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk. Those events are cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attack and non-fatal stroke.

The molecule itself, its evidence and its full safety detail are on the tirzepatide page.

How much does Mounjaro cost?

These prices come from the pages of Lilly, TrumpRx, Costco and Medicare, checked on 3 October 2026. Lilly counts a month as four pens.

How you pay	Price	Conditions
List price, before insurance	$1,112.16 per fill	Lilly’s wholesale price, the same at every strength
Self-pay through LillyDirect	$499 a month	Every strength, as listed on TrumpRx; prescription required
Savings card, plan covers Mounjaro	As little as $25 per 1-, 2- or 3-month fill	Savings capped at $150 a month and $1,950 a year; ends 31 December 2026
Savings card, plan doesn’t cover it	As low as $499 a month	Savings capped at $647 a month and $8,411 a year
Medicare	Depends on your Part D plan	Not part of the $50 GLP-1 Bridge
Costco member price, no insurance	$1,103.95 for 4 pens	Every strength; warehouse pick-up

Mounjaro cost without insurance

Lilly’s pricing page sends uninsured patients to LillyDirect, its direct-to-patient service, without printing a price. TrumpRx.gov lists Mounjaro at $499 a month at every strength, ordered through LillyDirect. Costco’s member price is more than twice that, and it can’t be used with insurance.

Zepbound, the same molecule, costs $299 to $449 a month self-pay. The two are approved for different conditions, and the diagnosis decides which one a prescriber writes.

With commercial insurance

Lilly’s savings card covers up to 13 fills a year and ends on 31 December 2026. If your plan covers Mounjaro, a fill can cost as little as $25. If it doesn’t, the card brings a month to $499. The card excludes Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs.

With Medicare

Mounjaro is not on the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, which charges $50 a month for certain weight-management drugs. Medicare says people with type 2 diabetes are outside the Bridge and their Part D plan might cover a GLP-1. What you pay then depends on the plan.

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is a prescription diabetes medicine. It comes as a clear solution in six strengths from 2.5 mg to 15 mg, in one of four forms:

a prefilled single-dose pen
a single-dose vial
a four-dose multi-dose vial
a four-dose KwikPen

You inject it under the skin of the abdomen or thigh, or the back of the upper arm if someone else gives the injection. Dosing is once a week, at any time of day, with or without food. The label says the KwikPen is not recommended for children to inject themselves. There is no approved tirzepatide pill: tirzepatide pills.

It is one of the GLP-1-type medicines on the list of FDA-approved peptide drugs.

Mounjaro structure

2D chemical structure of Mounjaro, C225H348N48O68 — 2D structure from PubChem CID 166567236 (NCBI, public domain). Open it in PubChem to zoom or view in 3D.

Molecular formula: C₂₂₅H₃₄₈N₄₈O₆₈
Molecular weight: 4813 g/mol
Length: 39 amino acids
Sequence: YXEGTFTSDYSIXLDKIAQKAFVQWLIAGGPSSGAPPPS
Modifications: X = Aib (2-aminoisobutyric acid) at positions 2 and 13; Lys20 carries a C20 fatty diacid (eicosanedioic acid) attached through a gamma-Glu-2xOEG linker; C-terminal amide.
PubChem CID: 166567236

PubChem holds several tirzepatide records with the same formula; this is the one deposited with the Mounjaro/Zepbound drug names.

Identity checked against FDA prescribing information (Mounjaro), DailyMed.

Mounjaro vs Zepbound

Mounjaro and Zepbound are the same drug. Both contain tirzepatide, both are made by Eli Lilly, and both come in the same strengths and formats. What differs is the approval:

	Mounjaro	Zepbound
Approved for	Blood-sugar control in type 2 diabetes; lowering major cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes	Weight management; obstructive sleep apnoea with obesity
Who	Adults, and children 10 and older for blood-sugar control	Adults
Top dose	15 mg weekly in adults, 10 mg in children	15 mg weekly
Self-pay price, 3 October 2026	$499 a month (pens, via LillyDirect)	$299 to $449 a month (vial or KwikPen)

Mounjaro is not approved as a weight-loss drug. That approval sits with Zepbound, and the Zepbound label says not to combine it with another tirzepatide product. More on the weight brand: what is Zepbound?

How Mounjaro works

Tirzepatide activates two gut-hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1. The Mounjaro label says it raises insulin release and lowers glucagon in a glucose-dependent way, so the effect scales with how high blood glucose already is. It also improves insulin sensitivity and slows stomach emptying. Its half-life of about five days allows once-weekly dosing. The mechanism in more depth: how tirzepatide works.

For the heart-outcomes indication, the label reports a trial of 13,299 adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. It compared Mounjaro with dulaglutide, another approved GLP-1 medicine. Over a median of about four years, major cardiovascular events occurred in 12.1% on Mounjaro and 13.0% on dulaglutide. Mounjaro was shown to be no worse, but not shown to be better.

Mounjaro dosage

Step	Dose
Start	2.5 mg once weekly
If more blood-sugar control is needed	Up in 2.5 mg steps, with at least 4 weeks on each dose
Maximum, adults	15 mg once weekly
Maximum, children 10 and older	10 mg once weekly

The label says the gradual escalation is there to reduce gastrointestinal side effects. A missed dose can be taken within 4 days (96 hours). After that, skip it and take the next one on the usual day. Mounjaro and insulin are given as separate injections and never mixed. The full schedule, week by week: tirzepatide dosage.

Side effects and who should not take it

The most common adverse reactions in adults in the label’s placebo-controlled diabetes trials:

Reaction	Placebo	5 mg	10 mg	15 mg
Nausea	4%	12%	15%	18%
Diarrhoea	9%	12%	13%	17%
Decreased appetite	1%	5%	10%	11%
Vomiting	2%	5%	5%	9%
Constipation	1%	6%	6%	7%
Dyspepsia	3%	8%	8%	5%
Abdominal pain	4%	6%	5%	5%

Most nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea happened while the dose was being raised, and eased over time. In the trial of children 10 and older, vomiting, abdominal pain and low blood sugar were more common than in adults.

Low blood sugar is the other side effect to know about. In the monotherapy trial, no one on Mounjaro had blood glucose below 54 mg/dL, against 1% on placebo. When it was added to basal insulin, blood glucose below 54 mg/dL occurred in 14% to 19% of patients against 13% on placebo. The label says the insulin or sulfonylurea dose may need lowering.

Do not take Mounjaro with a personal or family history of MTC or MEN 2, or a known serious allergy to tirzepatide or any of its ingredients. The label also warns about:

acute pancreatitis
gallbladder disease
kidney injury from dehydration
serious allergic reactions
worsening diabetic eye disease in people with a history of diabetic retinopathy
inhaling stomach contents during anaesthesia

It is not recommended with severe gastroparesis, and animal studies suggest it may harm a fetus. Because it slows stomach emptying, anyone on oral contraceptive pills should switch method or add a barrier method for 4 weeks after starting and after each dose increase.

Mounjaro vs compounded tirzepatide

Compounded or “research use only” tirzepatide is not Mounjaro. The FDA states that unapproved versions of GLP-1 drugs, including tirzepatide, are not reviewed for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are sold. It also says compounded drugs should only be used when a patient’s needs cannot be met by an approved drug. What legally separates the two: compounded vs branded.

Is Mounjaro the same as tirzepatide?

Mounjaro’s only active ingredient is tirzepatide, so the brand and the generic name refer to the same molecule. It is also what is in Zepbound. The approval belongs to the product, though. A vial labelled “tirzepatide” from a compounding pharmacy or research supplier has not been through the review behind the Mounjaro label.

Tirzepatide is also a different molecule from semaglutide, the drug in Ozempic. In a head-to-head weight trial in adults without diabetes, weight fell 20.2% on tirzepatide against 13.7% on semaglutide Aronne 2025 - Aronne LJ, Horn DB, le Roux CW et al. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2025;393(1):26-36., in the references below. The full comparison: semaglutide vs tirzepatide.

Common questions

How much does Mounjaro cost without insurance?

As of 3 October 2026, TrumpRx lists Mounjaro at $499 a month for every strength. You order it with a prescription through LillyDirect, Lilly's direct-to-patient service. A month is four single-dose pens. The list price before any discount is $1,112.16 per fill. If your commercial insurance does not cover Mounjaro, Lilly's savings card also brings a month to $499.

What is the cheapest price for Mounjaro?

With a commercial plan that covers it, Lilly's savings card can bring a 1-, 2- or 3-month fill to $25. Savings are capped at $150 a month and $1,950 a year. Without that coverage, the lowest price I found on 3 October 2026 was $499 a month, through LillyDirect as listed on TrumpRx.gov, or with Lilly's card. The card excludes Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs.

What is the price of Mounjaro 10 mg?

The same as every other strength. As of 3 October 2026, Lilly gives one list price of $1,112.16 per month's fill. TrumpRx lists $499 for each strength from 2.5 to 15 mg. Costco charges $1,103.95 for a box of four pens at any strength.

How much does Mounjaro cost at Costco?

On 3 October 2026, Costco's member price for a box of four Mounjaro pens was $1,103.95 for warehouse pick-up and $1,106.94 for home delivery, at every strength. That is Costco's own cash price and cannot be used with insurance. It is more than twice the $499 self-pay price for LillyDirect.

Is there a generic version of Mounjaro?

I found no FDA-approved generic. On 3 October 2026, FDA's Drugs@FDA data listed only Eli Lilly's two tirzepatide applications, for Mounjaro and Zepbound. Compounded or "research" tirzepatide is not a generic. FDA has not reviewed it for safety, effectiveness or quality.

Does Medicare cover Mounjaro?

The $50 Medicare GLP-1 Bridge does not include Mounjaro. It covers Foundayo, Wegovy and the Zepbound KwikPen for weight management. Medicare says people with type 2 diabetes are outside the Bridge and their Part D plan might cover a GLP-1, so the cost depends on the plan. Lilly's savings card excludes Medicare.

What is the generic name for Mounjaro?

Tirzepatide. Mounjaro is the brand name Eli Lilly uses for tirzepatide when it is prescribed for type 2 diabetes. The same molecule is sold as Zepbound for weight management and obstructive sleep apnoea.

Is Mounjaro the same as Ozempic?

No. Both are once-weekly injections approved for type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is semaglutide, made by Novo Nordisk, and Mounjaro is tirzepatide, made by Eli Lilly. Tirzepatide activates two gut-hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1. Semaglutide activates GLP-1 only. The two drugs have separate labels and separate trial data.

What are the cons of taking Mounjaro?

The label lists gastrointestinal side effects as the most common, especially while the dose is being raised. At 15 mg in its placebo-controlled trials, nausea affected 18% and diarrhoea 17%. It carries a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumours seen in rats. It can cause low blood sugar when combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea. It slows stomach emptying, which can affect other tablets including the contraceptive pill. It is also a weekly injection that needs a prescription.

What should I avoid while taking Mounjaro?

Mounjaro slows stomach emptying, so the label says not to rely on oral contraceptive pills alone for 4 weeks after starting and after each dose increase. It also says to watch oral medicines with a narrow margin, such as warfarin. It should not be used with severe gastroparesis. Anyone having surgery or sedation should tell the care team they take it. Vomiting or diarrhoea that leads to dehydration is linked to kidney injury, so fluid loss needs attention.

How quickly does Mounjaro start working?

The label does not give a time to a noticeable effect. Blood levels reach a steady state after 4 weeks of weekly doses. The dose is raised only after at least 4 weeks, if more blood-sugar control is needed. The adult trials measured their main HbA1c results at 40 or 52 weeks. The prescriber tracks how quickly blood sugar responds for one person.

How long does it take to lose 20 pounds on tirzepatide?

No label gives a timeline to a set number of pounds, and Mounjaro is not approved for weight loss. The Zepbound label covers adults with type 2 diabetes and a BMI of 27 or more. Over 72 weeks they lost an average 12.8% of body weight on 10 mg and 14.7% on 15 mg. Placebo lost 3.2%. The loss built gradually through the dose increases. Whether that is 20 pounds for one person depends on starting weight, dose and response.

What well-known people have said about Mounjaro

Public statements, shown because people search for them. Each is one person's account, in their words or a faithful summary, with where and when they said it. None of it is evidence that Mounjaro works or is safe; that is what the rest of this page is for.

Amy Schumercomedian and actorSaid they use it
Schumer said in an Instagram video in March 2025 that she was on Mounjaro and having a good experience, after earlier being unable to tolerate Ozempic.
“I'm having a really good experience”
Instagram video, March 2025. Source: Fox News · TODAY
Photo: Mario Santor, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Elon Musktech entrepreneur (Tesla, SpaceX, X)Said they use it
Musk posted a Santa photo captioned "Ozempic Santa" on X on Christmas Day 2024, then clarified in a reply that the drug he was taking was actually Mounjaro.
“Technically, Mounjaro, but that doesn't have the same ring to it.”
Post and reply on X, 25 December 2024. Source: Newsweek · Fox News
Photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Whoopi Goldbergactor and co-host of The ViewSaid they use it
Goldberg said on The View in March 2024 that Mounjaro was one of the things that helped her lose weight, and told The Kelly Clarkson Show in May 2024 that the shot had been really good for her.
“One of the things that's helped me drop the weight is Mounjaro. That's what I use.”
The View (ABC); later The Kelly Clarkson Show, May 2024, 19 March 2024. Source: E! News · TODAY
Photo: PhilipRomano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Charles Barkleyformer NBA player and TV analystSaid they use it
Barkley said in May 2023 sports-show interviews that he was working out and taking a Mounjaro shot once a week, had lost about 62 pounds in six months, and that his doctor preferred Mounjaro to Ozempic.
“I know a lot of people take Ozempic, but my doctor prefers Mounjaro.”
The Pat McAfee Show and The Dan Patrick Show, May 2023. Source: Business Insider (via Yahoo) · Fox News
Photo: Wright-Patt AFB (U.S. Air Force photo by Daniel Peterson), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

References (11 sources)

Bibliographic detail is fetched from PubMed, not written by me - so a citation here cannot drift from the paper it names. Study design comes from PubMed's own tags rather than my judgement.

1.Aronne LJ, Horn DB, le Roux CW et al. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2025;393(1):26-36.Clinical trialPMID 40353578
2.MOUNJARO (tirzepatide) injection - prescribing information: indications, dosing, boxed warning, contraindications, adverse reaction rates and the cardiovascular outcomes trial.- DailyMed, National Library of Medicinelabel
3.ZEPBOUND (tirzepatide) injection - prescribing information, used here for the Zepbound indications and weight results in adults with type 2 diabetes.- DailyMed, National Library of Medicinelabel
4.FDA's Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss - compounded and unapproved semaglutide and tirzepatide are not reviewed by FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality.- US Food and Drug Administrationregulatory
5.Lilly: Mounjaro cost information - list price (WAC) of $1,112.16 per fill of four pens, and the self-pay route through LillyDirect, checked 3 October 2026.- Eli Lilly and Companyother
6.Lilly: Mounjaro savings and coverage - savings card terms with and without commercial coverage, and government-program exclusions, checked 3 October 2026.- Eli Lilly and Companyother
7.TrumpRx: Mounjaro listing - $499 out-of-pocket price for every strength, ordered through LillyDirect, checked 3 October 2026.- TrumpRx.gov (US government)other
8.Costco Pharmacy: Mounjaro member prices for a box of four pens, all strengths, checked 3 October 2026.- Costco Pharmacyother
9.Lilly: Zepbound savings and coverage - the $299 to $449 self-pay prices for the KwikPen and vials, checked 3 October 2026, used for the Mounjaro vs Zepbound comparison.- Eli Lilly and Companyother
10.Medicare.gov: weight-loss drugs - the GLP-1 Bridge drug list, which excludes Mounjaro, and the note that Part D plans might cover GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes.- Medicare.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)regulatory
11.openFDA Drugs@FDA query for tirzepatide - lists only Eli Lilly's applications for Mounjaro (NDA 215866) and Zepbound (NDA 217806), checked 3 October 2026.- US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA)database