Mounjaro vs Zepbound: what is the difference?

At a glance

From each prescribing information and Lilly's Instructions for Use.^{[2, 1, 3, 4, 5]}

What each is approved for

Mounjaro

Mounjaro is approved, with diet and exercise, to improve blood sugar in adults and children 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes, and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk.^[2]

Zepbound

Zepbound is approved for weight management in adults with obesity, or adults with overweight who also have at least one weight-related condition.^[1] It is also approved for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.^[1]

So although the medicine inside is the same, the two brands are approved for different groups of people. That is why a prescriber, and an insurance plan, will usually treat them as two different products.

Devices and strengths

• Zepbound comes as a single-dose pen, a single-dose vial and a multi-dose KwikPen.^{[3, 4, 5]} Its strengths are 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg.^{[7, 8]}
• Mounjaro comes as a single-dose pen, a single-patient-use KwikPen, and single-dose and multi-dose vials.^[2]

The pens look alike but are not interchangeable. Follow the Instructions for Use for the exact brand and device in your hand. Our step-by-step guides cover each one: Mounjaro andZepbound.

What is the same

• Schedule: once a week, at any time of day, with or without meals.^{[1, 2]}
• Missed doses: take it as soon as possible within 4 days (96 hours). After that, skip it and take the next dose on your usual day. To change your injection day, leave at least 3 days (72 hours) between doses.^{[1, 2]} More in our missed dose guide.
• Injection sites: your stomach (abdomen) or thigh, or the back of your upper arm if someone else gives the injection.^{[3, 6]} The free logbooktracks your rotation for either brand.
• Storage: single-dose pens and vials can stay at room temperature up to 86°F for a total of 21 days. Never freeze them.^{[3, 4, 6, 2]} KwikPens follow a 30-day rule. See how to store Zepbound and Mounjaro.

Cost and coverage

Because the brands are approved for different conditions, they have separate savings programs and are often covered under different insurance rules. Current self-pay prices for both, by dose, are on ourGLP-1 price checker.

• Zepbound: Lilly offers a savings card for people with commercial insurance, and self-pay prices for the KwikPen and vials.^[9] Details are in ourZepbound savings guide.
• Medicare: the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge covers the Zepbound KwikPen for $50 a month for eligible people. Its eligibility rules exclude people with type 2 diabetes, so it does not apply to someone prescribed Mounjaro for diabetes.^[10]
• Mounjaro: ask your insurer or pharmacist how your plan covers it. This guide does not yet list Mounjaro savings programs.

Which one will I get?

That is your prescriber's decision. It usually starts with which label fits your diagnosis: type 2 diabetes points to Mounjaro, and weight management or sleep apnea without diabetes points to Zepbound. Your insurance plan's rules matter too. Do not change, combine or switch GLP-1 medicines without talking to your prescriber.

Common questions