Can’t Fill Your Mounjaro Prescription? Consider These 9 Mounjaro Alternatives

There are a lot of issues that can happen at the pharmacy that can stop you from filling your prescription. The pharmacy being out of stock and unexpected prescription costs are two that can be particularly frustrating. If you’ve been prescribed Mounjaro (tirzepatide), you may have run into one or both of these scenarios.

Mounjaro is an injectable medication that’s FDA approved to lower blood sugar (glucose) levels in adults and children ages 10 and older with Type 2 diabetes. But it’s also sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss because it can cause significant reductions in body weight.

If you can’t get your prescription filled, it can leave you scrambling to find an alternative. With Mounjaro, this can be a bit tricky, since it’s the only medication in its class when it comes to diabetes. But that doesn’t mean you’re completely out of options.

Mounjaro alternatives for Type 2 diabetes

Mounjaro is a once-weekly injectable diabetes medication. It works by mimicking two gut hormones: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).

Mounjaro can help lower your hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C or A1C), or your average blood sugar over the past 3 months. It can be used by itself or in combination with other diabetes medications, such as metformin. And it carries a low risk for low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Below are details about five Mounjaro alternatives for Type 2 diabetes that have similar qualities.

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1. Ozempic

Ozempic (semaglutide) is also a once-weekly injectable diabetes medication. It belongs to a group of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists. It also provides significant weight loss for many people who use it.

One of the main differences between Mounjaro and Ozempic is how they work. While Mounjaro acts like GLP-1 and GIP, Ozempic only mimics GLP-1. For some people, this could mean less A1C reduction.

Mounjaro is also approved to manage Type 2 diabetes for adults and children as young as age 10. Ozempic is approved for this condition only for adults ages 18 and older.

But Ozempic has some added, proven benefits compared to Mounjaro. Ozempic is also approved to lower the risk of serious cardiovascular and kidney-related problems in certain people. Mounjaro has been studied for heart-related benefits, but it’s not approved for this use yet. So depending on your health history, Ozempic could be a better choice for you.

How to save: If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $25 per prescription for Ozempic using a copay savings card. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Ozempic’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost. If you’re new to using GoodRx for Ozempic savings, pay an introductory price of $199 per month for the first two fills (only available for certain doses). After that, most ongoing fills are priced at $349 or $499 per month, depending on the dose.

Ozempic or Mounjaro? Test your knowledge!

2. Rybelsus

Rybelsus (semaglutide) is an oral tablet that contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic. But instead of a once-weekly dose, you need to take Rybelsus once a day. However, it can be an attractive alternative to Mounjaro if you don’t like giving yourself injections.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Wrangle up savings: Find out how much Mounjaro (tirzepatide) costs without insurance and ways you can save on your prescription.

• How it works: Mounjaro mimics two gut hormones, which helps balance blood sugar levels. Read about how Mounjaro works here.

• Compare options: Mounjaro is one of several medications that work like the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Read more about available GLP-1 agonists here.

Rybelsus is also a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It’s effective for lowering A1C, and it seems to provide weight-loss benefits, too. Unlike Mounjaro, Rybelsus is also approved to lower the risk of serious heart-related problems. So if you have a high risk of these cardiovascular events, Rybelsus could be a good fit for you.

But Rybelsus is approved only for adults. Mounjaro, though, can be prescribed for children ages 10 and older. So if you’re looking at Mounjaro alternatives for your child, Rybelsus isn’t the best fit.

How to save: If you’re eligible, you could pay as little as $25 per month for your Rybelsus prescription with a copay savings card from the manufacturer. A patient assistance program is also available.

3. Trulicity

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is also a once-weekly injectable GLP-1 agonist. It works similarly to Ozempic and Rybelsus to help lower A1C. And some people using it may experience weight loss.

Similar to Ozempic, Trulicity has proven cardiovascular benefits. And like Mounjaro, Trulicity is also FDA approved for Type 2 diabetes for both adults and children as young as age 10.

Trulicity pens look similar to Mounjaro pens. In fact, you prepare and inject your dose in the same way. Switching to Trulicity may be easier to adjust to than with other Mounjaro alternatives, since you’ll already be familiar with the injection process.

How to save: With a manufacturer copay savings card, you could pay as little as $25 for your Trulicity prescription. A patient assistance program is also available.

4. Victoza

Victoza (liraglutide) is another injectable GLP-1 agonist. But instead of injecting it once a week, you have to inject it once a day. This is because the medication doesn’t last in the body as long as Mounjaro or the injectable alternatives listed above.

Unlike Mounjaro, Victoza has proven heart protection benefits. But both medications are approved for use in people ages 10 and older. And Victoza may lead to weight loss for some people, although weight loss would likely be less than with Mounjaro.

How to save: Victoza is available as a lower-cost generic medication. You can save over 70% off the average retail price of the generic version with a free GoodRx coupon.

5. Byetta, Bydureon BCise

Byetta (exenatide) was the first GLP-1 agonist to receive FDA approval. It needs to be injected twice a day, within an hour before meals. While this can seem less convenient, it may be helpful if your blood sugar tends to spike after eating.

Bydureon BCise (exenatide) is a longer-lasting version of Byetta. It only needs to be injected once a week, similar to many other Mounjaro alternatives. Bydureon BCise is also FDA approved for adults and children ages 10 and older. Byetta is only approved for adults.

Neither Byetta nor Bydureon BCise have the same cardiovascular benefits as many other Mounjaro alternatives. But they can both lead to weight loss for many people.

How to save: Byetta is available as a lower-cost generic medication. You can save over 60% off the average retail price of the generic version with a free GoodRx coupon. If you have commercial insurance, you may be able to get Bydureon BCise, which is available as a brand-name medication, for as low as $0 per month. A patient assistance program is also available for Bydureon BCise.

Mounjaro alternatives for weight loss

Mounjaro isn’t approved for weight loss. But healthcare professionals may prescribe it off-label for this reason. There are four Mounjaro alternatives currently available for weight loss.

1. Zepbound

Zepbound (tirzepatide) is the most similar Mounjaro alternative. That’s because it contains the same active ingredient: tirzepatide. It’s also injected once a week and is made by the same manufacturer as Mounjaro.

Zepbound pens look almost the same as Mounjaro pens. Zepbound is FDA approved for chronic weight management in adults considered obese. It can also be prescribed to adults considered overweight who have at least one weight-related health condition, such as high cholesterol. Zepbound is also approved for obstructive sleep apnea in adults with larger bodies.

Unlike Mounjaro, Zepbound isn’t approved for children. So if you’re looking for options for your child, Zepbound isn’t an available choice.

How to save: If you have commercial insurance, you may be able to get Zepbound pens for as low as $25 for a 1- or 3-month supply with a copay savings card from the manufacturer. If your commercial insurance plan doesn’t cover Zepbound, you may be able to pay $499 for a 30-day supply. Subscribers to GoodRx for Weight Loss can also access FDA-approved brand-name GLP-1 medications like Zepbound. Lower-cost single-dose vials are also available through LillyDirect for $299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg), and $449 (7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg) per month.

2. Wegovy injections

Wegovy injections (semaglutide) contain the same active ingredient as Ozempic — but at a slightly higher dose. Similar to Mounjaro, Wegovy is injected once a week. Wegovy is approved for certain adults and adolescents as young as 12 years old.

Both Mounjaro and Wegovy can help people lose a significant amount of body weight. However, studies suggest that tirzepatide (Mounjaro’s active ingredient) causes more weight loss on average.

But on the other hand, Wegovy has proven cardiovascular benefits. It’s also approved to treat a type of liver disease called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with liver scarring. Mounjaro isn’t approved for these uses.

How to save: If you’re eligible, you could pay as little as $25 per month for your Wegovy prescription with a manufacturer copay savings card. If your insurance doesn’t cover Wegovy, you could pay as little as $349 with the Wegovy savings card. 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. For future fills and for other Wegovy doses, pay $349 per month for the injection.

3. Wegovy pills

Wegovy pills (oral semaglutide) are an oral alternative to Mounjaro for weight loss. This medication is approved for adults with larger body sizes to help with weight loss. It’s also approved to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular problems for adults considered obese or overweight who also have heart disease.

Clinical trials suggest Wegovy pills provide similar weight-loss results as the injectable version. The oral medication hasn’t been directly compared to tirzepatide (Mounjaro’s active ingredient). But individual clinical trials suggest tirzepatide leads to more weight loss.

How to save: If you’re eligible, you could pay as little as $25 per month for your Wegovy tablets prescription with a manufacturer copay savings card. If you’re new to using GoodRx for Wegovy savings, pay an introductory price of $149 per month for the first two fills of the Wegovy pill (only available for certain doses). For future fills and for other Wegovy doses, pay $299 per month.

4. Saxenda

Saxenda (liraglutide) is a higher-dose version of Victoza. Saxenda is injected once a day — much more frequently than Mounjaro. But Saxenda is approved for weight loss for people ages 12 and older who are considered obese. It’s also approved for weight loss for adults who are considered overweight and have at least one weight-related health condition.

You may experience less weight loss with Saxenda than with Mounjaro. Keep in mind that they haven’t been directly compared in clinical trials for weight loss. But we know Wegovy typically leads to more weight loss than Saxenda. And as mentioned above, people receiving Mounjaro may lose more weight than people receiving Wegovy.

How to save: Saxenda is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. GoodRx can help you save over 75% off the average retail cost of the generic version with a free coupon.

How do you switch from Mounjaro to an alternative?

There are no standard instructions for switching to a Mounjaro alternative. You should work with your prescriber to determine the best way for you to switch between products. You may have to start with a lower dose of the medication you're switching to and slowly raise it. This would be a similar process to when you first start receiving Mounjaro.

If you’re switching from Mounjaro to Zepbound, you may be able to maintain your current dosage. Because they contain the same active ingredient, your body should react to both medications similarly. Zepbound pens are available in the same doses as Mounjaro pens.

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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.

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