Wegovy vs. Mounjaro: 8 Differences You Should Know About

Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) have been making headlines since they came to market. The fact that people tend to lose a significant amount of weight while taking them is one of many notable qualities.

These two medications have a lot in common, but there are several differences between Wegovy and Mounjaro — including the fact that Wegovy is available as both a pill and injection.

Wegovy vs. Mounjaro at a glance

When comparing medications, having all the details side by side can be helpful. In the chart below, we’ve detailed a few factors to keep in mind when comparing Wegovy versus Mounjaro.

In this article, we’ll discuss eight differences between Wegovey and Mounjaro in more depth.

1. Wegovy and Mounjaro have different FDA-approved uses

The biggest difference between Wegovy and Mounjaro is in their FDA-approved uses. In short, Wegovy is primarily a weight-loss medication, while Mounjaro is a Type 2 diabetes medication.

Wegovy is approved for weight loss in adults and adolescents ages 12 and older. It’s also approved to lower the risk of serious cardiovascular problems in certain adults (more on this below). What’s more, Wegovy injections are approved to treat MASH (a type of fatty liver disease) in adults with moderate-to-advanced liver scarring.

Wegovy isn’t approved to treat diabetes. Lower-dose versions of Wegovy — Ozempic injections and Rybelsus tablets — are approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. Both Ozempic and Rybelsus are also commonly compared to Mounjaro.

Mounjaro is currently approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes in adults and children ages 10 and older. It works best when combined with a diabetes-friendly diet and regular exercise. You can use it by itself or with other diabetes medications, such as metformin.

Is Mounjaro approved for weight loss?

No, Mounjaro isn’t approved for weight loss. But tirzepatide (its active ingredient) is approved for weight loss under the brand name Zepbound. You can read more about how Zepbound and Wegovy compare in another GoodRx Health article.

2. Wegovy also comes as an oral tablet

Both Wegovy and Mounjaro are available as once-weekly injections. But Wegovy is also available as a once-daily oral tablet.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• How to save: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications like Wegovy (semaglutide) don’t need to break the bank. Explore ways to save on your prescription with this GLP-1 savings guide.

• GLP-1 comparison: Wegovy and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are two medications that work in a similar way. Here’s how GLP-1 medications compare.

• Consider cost: Find out how much Mounjaro costs without insurance and ways you can save on your prescription.

Studies suggest Wegovy pills and injections provide similar weight-loss results. So the pills may be an option if you’d rather avoid giving yourself shots.

But it’s good to know that you need to take Wegovy pills in a certain way in order for your body to absorb them:

• Take Wegovy pills first thing in the morning.

• Take your dose with no more than 4 oz of plain water.

• Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking other liquids, and taking other medications.

3. Wegovy and Mounjaro are approved for different age ranges

Wegovy and Mounjaro are also approved for different age groups. The approved age ranges for Wegovy injections and pills also differ. The table below highlights the different age groups that each medication is approved for.

4. Wegovy and Mounjaro work in similar but different ways

Both Wegovy and Mounjaro work by mimicking gut hormones called incretins. Incretins signal the pancreas to release insulin after eating and tell the liver to make less glucose (sugar). They also slow the passage of food through the digestive tract and act on areas of the brain responsible for regulating your appetite.

When a medication mimics an incretin, it can help you feel fuller faster and for longer when you eat, and it can reduce feelings of hunger. It can also help your body regulate your blood sugar levels. Wegovy and Mounjaro act slightly differently because they mimic different incretins.

Wegovy is part of the GLP-1 receptor agonist medication class. After injecting a dose, it acts like the incretin GLP-1.

Similarly, Mounjaro acts like GLP-1 in the body. However, it also mimics an incretin called GIP. So it belongs to a different medication class: dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists. Medications in this class can help manage blood sugar levels better than GLP-1 agonists for people with Type 2 diabetes.

Do Wegovy and Mounjaro have the same ingredients?

No, Wegovy and Mounjaro don’t have the same ingredients. The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide. They also have different inactive ingredients. So Wegovy and Mounjaro are not interchangeable, even though they work similarly.

5. Mounjaro likely causes more weight loss than Wegovy

Wegovy and Mounjaro can both lead to significant weight loss. But Mounjaro seems to cause more.

In clinical trials, researchers compared Mounjaro to placebo (an injection with no medication in it) for about 18 months. On average, people with diabetes taking the highest dose (15 mg) of Mounjaro lost 15.7% of their body weight by the end of the study. And just under one-third of people reported at least a 20% body-weight reduction.

In Wegovy’s clinical trials, researchers compared the results of people with diabetes who received Wegovy injections versus those who took a placebo over the course of about 16 months. People taking the weekly maintenance dose of Wegovy (2.4 mg) reported a 9.6% average reduction in body weight.

Keep in mind, Mounjaro and Wegovy haven’t been compared directly to each other. But a clinical trial compared the weight-loss results for people without diabetes taking Zepbound (which contains tirzepatide) to those taking Wegovy. Results showed people using Zepbound lost nearly 50% more than those using Wegovy.

But Wegovy’s manufacturer is seeking approval for a higher dose (7.2 mg) of the injection. A clinical trial found that people taking the higher dose had lost 19% of their body weight on average after using it for about 16 months. And people who used Wegovy for the entire study lost nearly 21% of their body weight.

6. Wegovy has proven cardiovascular benefits

Another key difference to consider is that Wegovy is also approved for its cardiovascular benefits. So if you have heart disease, your prescriber may prefer it to Mounjaro.

In a clinical trial, Wegovy lowered the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) by 20%. MACE is a term that includes heart attacks, strokes, or cardiovascular death. Based on this clinical trial, the FDA approved Wegovy to help lower the risk of MACE for people with heart disease and who are considered to be overweight or obese.

Mounjaro isn’t currently approved for any heart conditions. But a clinical trial found that it provided similar cardiovascular protection to Trulicity (dulaglutide), a GLP-1 receptor agonist that’s approved for MACE risk reduction. Mounjaro’s manufacturer planned to submit the medication for FDA approval for this use by the end of 2025.

7. Wegovy and Mounjaro have slightly different storage instructions

Both Wegovy injections and Mounjaro can be kept in the refrigerator (36°F to 46°F) or at room temperature (up to 86°F). But Wegovy lasts longer when stored outside the fridge than Mounjaro. Wegovy pens can be kept at room temperature for up to 28 days. Mounjaro pens and vials can be stored outside of the fridge for up to 21 days.

Wegovy pills, on the other hand, should be stored at room temperature. But they should be kept in their original bottle. Don’t use a pill organizer or pill box to store them.

8. Insurance coverage may be different for Wegovy and Mounjaro

The coverage of Wegovy and Mounjaro may vary depending on your insurance plan. For instance, your plan might not include coverage for weight management medications like Wegovy. However, it might cover it to treat MASH or for MACE risk reduction if you have heart disease. And your plan may cover Mounjaro for treating Type 2 diabetes. It's a good idea to check with your plan in advance to know the specific details of what is covered.

Can you switch between Wegovy and Mounjaro?

Possibly, but it depends on what health conditions you have. Remember, Mounjaro is currently approved only for Type 2 diabetes. Taking it for weight loss when you don’t have diabetes would be considered an off-label use. In this case, Zepbound may be a better option.

As mentioned above, adults with Type 2 diabetes who are considered to be overweight may qualify for Wegovy injections or pills. However, this group of people would also be eligible to use Mounjaro. In these instances, the choice may come down to your other diabetes treatment goals and the cost of the medications.

If your prescriber gives you the OK to change medications, follow their instructions closely. There are no standard recommendations for how to switch between Wegovy and Mounjaro. You may need to start with a low dosage of the medication you’re switching to to help limit side effects.

Can you use Wegovy and Mounjaro together?

No, it’s not recommended to take both Wegovy and Mounjaro. They work in similar ways. So taking both could raise your risk of side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

If you’re taking the maximum dose of Mounjaro for diabetes and haven’t met your weight-loss goals, it’s best to discuss the situation with your healthcare team. There are other weight-loss medications that may be safer to combine with Mounjaro than Wegovy is.

How to save on Wegovy and Mounjaro

The best way to save on Wegovy or Mounjaro is to use your health insurance. Which medication is more affordable can depend on your specific plan and health history.

But if you don’t have coverage, or if your cost is still high, there are ways to save on Wegovy and Mounjaro.

• Manufacturer copay card with coverage: You could pay as little as $25 for up to a 3-month supply of Mounjaro if you have a commercial insurance plan that covers the medication. If you’re eligible for Wegovy’s copay card, you could pay as little as $25 per month for the injection or pill.

• Manufacturer copay card without coverage: If your plan doesn’t cover Mounjaro, you may be able to pay $499 for a 28-day supply. If your plan doesn’t cover Wegovy or you’re uninsured, you could pay $349 for a 28-day supply of the injection or $299 for the pills (lower prices available for certain doses).

• GoodRx: If you’re new to using GoodRx for Wegovy savings, pay an introductory price for the first two fills of $199 per month for the injection and $149 per month for the pill (only available for certain doses). For future fills and for other Wegovy doses, pay $349 per month for the injection and $299 per month for the pill. Subscribers to GoodRx for Weight Loss can also access FDA-approved brand-name GLP-1 medications like Wegovy.

• Discounts through NovoCare Pharmacy: If your commercial insurance plan doesn’t cover Wegovy injections, you can also get them delivered to you through NovoCare Pharmacy.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts