Key takeaways:
Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are both once-weekly injectable medications. They work similarly but have a few notable differences.
Wegovy is approved for weight loss in certain adults and adolescents ages 12 and older. Mounjaro is FDA approved to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults.
Both Wegovy and Mounjaro can cause significant weight loss. Individual studies and those comparing their active ingredients have shown greater weight loss with tirzepatide. But keep in mind that Mounjaro isn’t approved for weight loss.
There are many ways to save on Wegovy and Mounjaro. If you’re eligible, manufacturer savings cards can help make your prescription more affordable. GoodRx can also help you pay as little as $499 per month for Wegovy.
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 injectable medications have a lot in common, but there are several differences between Wegovy and Mounjaro — including the fact that they are FDA approved for different uses.
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.
| Wegovy | Mounjaro | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide |
| Medication class | Glucose-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist | Dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| FDA-approved uses |
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| Who can use it? |
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| Available dosage forms |
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| Storage |
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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 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 treat metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with moderate-to-advanced fibrosis (scar tissue in the liver) in adults. And it can lower the risk of serious cardiovascular problems in certain adults (more on this below). Wegovy isn’t approved to treat diabetes. A lower-dose version of Wegovy, called Ozempic, is approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. It’s also commonly compared to Mounjaro.
Mounjaro is currently only approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes in adults. 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. Mounjaro is available in multiple dosage forms
Both Mounjaro and Wegovy are available as single-dose injector pens. But Mounjaro is also available as single-dose vials that require you to use a separate syringe and needle.
If you’re using Mounjaro, your prescriber can help you decide whether pens or vials would be better for you. They can also help determine the most appropriate needle and syringe size for you to use.
Losing weight: Medications can be a useful tool to help you lose weight. But dietary and lifestyle changes are necessary for best results. Experts break down science-backed tips for weight loss that you can add to your routine.
Finding success: One woman shares how Wegovy transformed her weight-loss journey after age 50.
GLP-1 comparison: Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are two medications that work in a similar way. Here’s how GLP-1 medications compare.
3. Different people are eligible for Wegovy and Mounjaro
Wegovy is approved for adults who are considered to be obese or . It’s also approved for adults who are considered overweight and have heart disease, or at least one weight-related health condition, such as Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. What’s more, Wegovy can also be prescribed for adolescents ages 12 years or older who are considered to be obese for their age and sex.
Mounjaro can be prescribed to adults who have Type 2 diabetes. There is no minimum body weight requirement to qualify for the medication. But oral diabetes medications, such as metformin, are often more convenient or affordable for many people. Mounjaro might be recommended if weight loss is one of your diabetes-treatment goals, or if other medications aren’t working well enough.
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 sugar (glucose). They also slow the passage of food through the digestive tract and act on areas of the brain responsible for regulating your appetite.
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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 took Wegovy 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. An ongoing clinical trial will compare the effects of a higher dose of Wegovy (7.2 mg) to Wegovy 2.4 mg for people with Type 2 diabetes who are considered obese. The results of this study are expected to be announced later in 2025.
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.
6. Wegovy has proven cardiovascular benefits
Another key difference to consider is that Wegovy has proven 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-related uses. But an ongoing clinical trial is evaluating it for MACE reduction in people with Type 2 diabetes. This study is expected to be completed in June 2025.
7. Wegovy and Mounjaro have slightly different storage instructions
Both Wegovy 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.
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 for MACE 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, people with Type 2 diabetes who are considered to be overweight may qualify for Wegovy. 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
Wegovy and Mounjaro are both available as brand-name medications. GoodRx can help you find ways to save on the cost of your prescription.
With a free GoodRx coupon, you could pay as little as $499 per month for Wegovy. If you have commercial insurance and meet eligibility requirements, you could pay as little as $0 per month for Wegovy with a copay savings card. You could also pay as little as $499 per month with direct delivery through NovoCare Pharmacy.
There’s also a copay savings card available for Mounjaro. If you’re eligible, you could pay as little as $25 for a 1- or 3-month supply. Keep in mind that you may need a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis to qualify for Mounjaro.
The bottom line
Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are once-weekly injectable medications that can both cause significant weight loss. But only Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss. Mounjaro is approved to treat Type 2 diabetes.
Mounjaro seems to cause more weight loss than Wegovy. What’s more, Wegovy has proven benefits for certain people living with heart and liver disease. This hasn’t been confirmed with Mounjaro yet.
If you’re not sure whether Wegovy or Mounjaro is right for you, talk to your healthcare team. They can help you determine which one would be a better option for you.
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References
American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. (2025). 9. Pharmacologic approaches to glycemic treatment: Standards of care in Diabetes—2025. Diabetes Care.
ClinicalTrials.gov. (2024). A study of Tirzepatide (LY3298176) in participants with obesity or overweight with weight related comorbidities (SURMOUNT-5). National Library of Medicine.
ClinicalTrials.gov. (2025). A study of Tirzepatide (LY3298176) compared with Dulaglutide on major cardiovascular events in participants with Type 2 Diabetes (SURPASS-CVOT). National Library of Medicine.
Davies, M., et al. (2021). Semaglutide 2·4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2): A randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. The Lancet.
Eli Lilly and Company. (2023). Lilly's SURMOUNT-2 results published in The Lancet show tirzepatide achieved a mean weight reduction of 15.7% at the highest dose (15 mg) in adults with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes.
Eli Lilly and Company. (2024). Lilly's Zepbound (tirzepatide) superior to Wegovy (semaglutide) in head-to-head trial showing an average weight loss of 20.2% vs. 13.7%.
Eli Lilly and Company. (2025). Mounjaro- tirzepatide injection, solution [package insert].
Frías, J. P., et al. (2021). Tirzepatide versus Semaglutide once weekly in patients with Type 2 Diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine.
Lincoff, A. M., et al. (2023). Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in obesity without Diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine.
Novo Nordisk. (n.d.). NovoCare Pharmacy.
Novo Nordisk. (2025). Wegovy- semaglutide injection, solution [package insert].
Novo Nordisk. (2025). Novo Nordisk A/S: Semaglutide 7.2 mg s.c. achieved 20.7% weight loss in the STEP UP obesity trial, and 18.7% regardless of treatment adherence.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). FDA approves first treatment to reduce risk of serious heart problems specifically in adults with obesity or overweight.
