Mounjaro vs Zepbound
Both are tirzepatide, made by Eli Lilly. They are approved for different uses, sold at different self-pay prices, and treated differently by savings cards and Medicare.
Lilly says of Mounjaro: Mounjaro is not a weight loss drug.
mounjaro.lilly.com, Sep 27, 2026
Zepbound
Approved for
- Indication 1: chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight plus a weight-related comorbidity.
to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in adults with obesity or adults with overweight in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition.
dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, Sep 27, 2026 - Indication 2: moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.
to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity.
dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, Sep 27, 2026 - Limitation of use: not to be combined with other tirzepatide products or any GLP-1 receptor agonist.
ZEPBOUND contains tirzepatide. Coadministration with other tirzepatide-containing products or with any glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist is not recommended.
dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, Sep 27, 2026
Self-pay from LillyDirect
Savings card and Medicare
- With covering commercial insurance: as little as $25; card terms
- Medicare: No, the Zepbound savings card excludes Medicare. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge covers the Zepbound KwikPen for a $50 copay if you qualify.
Mounjaro
Approved for
- Glycemic control in adults and children 10+ with type 2 diabetes.
as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, Sep 27, 2026 - Reduce MACE risk in high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes.
to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), or non-fatal stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are at high risk for these events.
dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, Sep 27, 2026
Self-pay from LillyDirect
- Injection, pen: $499 a fill lilly.com
Savings card and Medicare
- With covering commercial insurance: as little as $25; card terms
- Medicare: No, the Mounjaro savings card excludes Medicare, including Part D and Medicare Advantage. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge does not list Mounjaro; for type 2 diabetes, CMS points people to their Part D plan.
The labels list more uses and warnings than this page. This page is not medical advice; which one fits is a decision for a clinician. Medical disclaimer.