What Does Mounjaro Look Like? 6 Mounjaro Images, Plus How to Spot Fakes

The injectable Type 2 diabetes medication, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), has been growing in popularity. So much so, in fact, that the demand for it initially led to shortages at pharmacies across the country. Supply issues have since been resolved, and Mounjaro is now more readily available at pharmacies.

While the medication was in short supply, many people received tirzepatide (Mounjaro’s active ingredient) from compounding pharmacies. This has been mostly phased out now that the medication is no longer in shortage.

But when it comes to switching to brand-name Mounjaro, the product you’ll get likely looks different from compounded tirzepatide. And unfortunately, there are counterfeit (fake) versions of Mounjaro being sold as the real thing. So it’s good to know how to identify legitimate Mounjaro and tell it apart from fakes.

What does Mounjaro look like?

Mounjaro comes in six doses, ranging from 2.5 mg to 15 mg. You should receive Mounjaro in a box that contains four single-dose pens.

Every Mounjaro pen is shaped like a cylinder, with a gray, triangle-shaped safety cover on one end. The other end has a purple injector button that’s slightly curved. To make it easier to tell Mounjaro pens apart, each dose has a different color label. But there’s more to check for when verifying your Mounjaro pen is genuine.

You should also look for a National Drug Code (NDC). This unique string of numbers can help you identify your medication. Think of an NDC like a fingerprint for a medication. Mounjaro should have two NDCs: one on the box and one on the pen.

The NDC on the box will be on the front, in the upper left-hand corner. The NDC on the pen will be on the right-hand side of the label, next to a black box that contains the pen’s expiration date.

Below are images of all six Mounjaro doses, along with their NDCs. If you see an NDC that’s different from what’s listed here, contact manufacturer Lilly at 1-800-545-5979.

1. Mounjaro 2.5 mg pen (gray label)

Mounjaro 2.5 mg uses the color gray on its labeling.

The box it comes in will have a large gray triangle and image of the pen on the right-hand side. The concentration (2.5 mg/0.5 mL) is written in white in the center of the gray triangle.

The Mounjaro 2.5 mg pen label will have a gray box on it that’s tapered into a point on one side. The concentration will be written in white in the middle of this gray shape.

The NDC on the Mounjaro 2.5 mg box should be either 0002-1506-80 or 0002-1506-61. The NDC on the pen is 0002-1506-01.

2. Mounjaro 5 mg pen (purple label)

Mounjaro 5 mg uses the color purple on its labeling.

The box it comes in will have a large purple triangle and image of the pen on the right-hand side. The concentration (5 mg/0.5 mL) is written in white in the center of the purple triangle.

The Mounjaro 5 mg pen label will have a purple box on it that’s tapered into a point on one side. The concentration will be written in white in the middle of this purple shape.

The NDC on the Mounjaro 5 mg box is 0002-1495-80. The NDC on the pen is 0002-1495-01.

3. Mounjaro 7.5 mg pen (green label)

Mounjaro 7.5 mg uses the color green on its labeling.

The box it comes in will have a large green triangle and image of the pen on the right-hand side. The concentration (7.5 mg/0.5 mL) is written in white in the center of the green triangle.

The Mounjaro 7.5 mg pen label will have a green box on it that’s tapered into a point on one side. The concentration will be written in white in the middle of this green shape.

The NDC on the Mounjaro 7.5 mg box is 0002-1484-80. The NDC on the pen is 0002-1484-01.

4. Mounjaro 10 mg pen (pink label)

Mounjaro 10 mg uses the color pink on its labeling.

The box it comes in will have a large pink triangle and image of the pen on the right-hand side. The concentration (10 mg/0.5 mL) is written in white in the center of the pink triangle.

The Mounjaro 10 mg pen label will have a pink box on it that’s tapered into a point on one side. The concentration will be written in white in the middle of this pink shape.

The NDC on the Mounjaro 10 mg box is 0002-1471-80. The NDC on the pen is 0002-1471-01.

5. Mounjaro 12.5 mg pen (blue label)

Mounjaro 12.5 mg uses the color blue on its labeling.

The box it comes in will have a large blue triangle and image of the pen on the right-hand side. The concentration (12.5 mg/0.5 mL) is written in white in the center of the blue triangle.

The Mounjaro 12.5 mg pen label will have a blue box on it that’s tapered into a point on one side. The concentration will be written in white in the middle of this blue shape.

The NDC on the Mounjaro 12.5 mg box is 0002-1460-80. The NDC on the pen is 0002-1460-01.

6. Mounjaro 15 mg pen (orange label)

Mounjaro 15 mg uses the color orange on its labeling.

The box it comes in will have a large orange triangle and image of the pen on the right-hand side. The concentration (15 mg/0.5 mL) is written in white in the center of the orange triangle.

The Mounjaro 15 mg pen label will have an orange box on it that’s tapered into a point on one side. The concentration will be written in white in the middle of this orange shape.

The NDC on the Mounjaro 15 mg box is 0002-1457-80. The NDC on the pen is 0002-1457-01.

How can you tell real Mounjaro from fake Mounjaro?

Unfortunately, fake Mounjaro is out there. In March 2024, Lilly put out a statement warning people not to use counterfeit versions of the medication. They put out another statement a few months later, warning people of the potential health risks associated with using counterfeit versions. The FDA has also warned that counterfeit tirzepatide is being illegally sold in the U.S.

But there are steps you can take to ensure your Mounjaro pens are legitimate:

• Scan your barcode. Lilly has a barcode scanning tool online. Using your phone’s or computer’s camera, scan the barcode on your product. The tool will tell you if it’s authentic Mounjaro.

• Check the box. Fake Mounjaro boxes may look different from real ones. The colored triangle might be in a different place. Or the concentration may not be visible on the box or on the image of the Mounjaro pen.

• Check for the brand name. There is no generic version of Mounjaro available. So the brand name should be on both the box and pen. If someone claims they sell “generic Mounjaro” or “generic tirzepatide,” it’s not real Mounjaro.

• Check the NDC. Fake Mounjaro may not have an NDC on either the box or pen. Make sure to check for both. If you don’t see an NDC on the packaging or device, don’t use it.

• Check the injector button. This should be a purple color. It should also have a small indent where you can place your thumb during injection. The button on the U.S. Mounjaro pens shouldn’t move or extend.

• Check for an attached needle. Mounjaro pens sold in the U.S. come ready to use, with a needle already attached to the device. If your device requires you to attach a pen needle before using it, it’s not a real Mounjaro pen.

• Check to make sure there’s no dose counter. You don’t need to dial up a dose with U.S. Mounjaro pens. If you notice a dose counter around the injector button, it’s not an FDA-approved Mounjaro pen.

• Check the pen’s label. Fake Mounjaro pens may not have a label. The label may also be peeling off or not have the concentration written on it.

If something still seems off and you’re unsure whether you have a real Mounjaro pen, hold off injecting your dose. Your pharmacist is a great resource for spotting fake products. You can also contact Eli Lilly at 1-800-545-5979 for help determining if you have legitimate Mounjaro. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM ET.

Good to know: Mounjaro pens look different in different countries. For instance, Mounjaro pens sold in the United Kingdom are intended for multiple doses. They require people to dial up doses and attach pen needles before use. While these aren’t counterfeit Mounjaro pens, they’re not FDA approved and you shouldn’t use them.

What can happen if you use fake Mounjaro?

There are several risks when it comes to using fake Mounjaro. These could include:

• The pen may contain a different medication, or no medication at all.

• The pen may have the wrong amount of medication in it (too much or too little).

• The medication in the pen may not be stable, or it could be expired.

• The pen or its contents could be contaminated with bacteria or other germs.

• The pen could malfunction and hurt you when you inject your dose.

Lilly is the only manufacturer allowed to make Mounjaro in the U.S. They follow strict guidelines from the FDA when producing it. This helps ensure that your Mounjaro pen works safely, effectively, and consistently every time. If you use fake Mounjaro, there are no guarantees on any of this.

Where can you find legitimate Mounjaro?

Your local pharmacy is the best place to find legitimate Mounjaro. These pharmacies follow various regulations set by state Boards of Pharmacy. Among other rules, pharmacies must purchase medications from licensed wholesalers. And both pharmacies and wholesalers take steps to help remove fake, defective, or recalled medications from distribution.

But what if local pharmacies don’t have Mounjaro in stock? Even though the medication isn’t in shortage anymore, you might still have trouble filling a prescription for it at local pharmacies. And this scenario can cause people to purchase it online. But you should take extra care if you’re considering this route.

What should you do if you receive counterfeit Mounjaro?

First and foremost, if you receive fake Mounjaro, don’t use it. As discussed above, there are several safety risks with using counterfeits.

There are also ways you can report counterfeits to the proper authorities. This can help prevent others from receiving fake Mounjaro in the future. The steps include:

• Reporting it to the FDA: You can use the FDA’s online reporting form if you find or receive counterfeit medications.

• Reporting it to the manufacturer: You can call Lilly, Mounjaro’s manufacturer, to report fake Mounjaro. Their customer service number is 1-800-545-5979, and representatives are available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM ET.

• Reporting suspicious pharmacies to NABP: You can use NABP’s online reporting form if you find an online pharmacy that seems suspicious. NABP can then review and investigate the pharmacy further if needed.

How to save on Mounjaro

There are ways to save on Mounjaro, which is available as a brand-name medication. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $25 per prescription for Mounjaro through the manufacturer’s copay savings program.

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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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