Is Wegovy better than or the same as Mounjaro?
How do Wegovy and Mounjaro compare for weight loss, and which is better?
No, they are different drugs. Wegovy is semaglutide from Novo Nordisk. Mounjaro is tirzepatide from Eli Lilly. In SURMOUNT-5, the one trial that tested the two drugs against each other for weight loss, adults on tirzepatide lost 20.2% of their body weight at 72 weeks. Adults on semaglutide lost 13.7%. Mounjaro itself is labeled for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss.[1][2][3]
Wegovy vs Mounjaro at a glance
Prices checked October 3, 2026.
| Attribute | HIGHLIGHTED Wegovysemaglutide | Mounjaro tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | semaglutide | tirzepatide |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly |
| Drug class | GLP-1 receptor agonist | Dual GIP / GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| FDA approved | June 2021 | May 2022 |
| Indication | Chronic weight management (BMI ≥ 30, or ≥ 27 with comorbidity; ages 12+ with obesity). Also lowers heart risk in adults with heart disease, and treats MASH[2] | Type 2 diabetes (adults and ages 10+). Also lowers heart risk in type 2 diabetes at high risk[3] |
| Dose schedule | Subcutaneous injection · Once weekly[2] | Subcutaneous injection · Once weekly[3] |
| Available doses | 0.25 mg · 0.5 mg · 1 mg · 1.7 mg · 2.4 mg · 7.2 mg[2] | 2.5 mg · 5 mg · 7.5 mg · 10 mg · 12.5 mg · 15 mg[3] |
| Mechanism | Wegovy is the same molecule as Ozempic, semaglutide, titrated to a higher 2.4 mg maintenance dose. It binds the GLP-1 receptor, augmenting glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon, slowing gastric emptying, and reducing appetite via central nervous system pathways. | Tirzepatide is a first-in-class single molecule that activates both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors. The dual incretin action augments glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and reduces appetite. It produces larger average HbA1c and weight reductions than GLP-1 agonism alone in head-to-head trials. |
| Common side effects | Nausea (44%), diarrhea (30%), and vomiting (24%) are more frequent than at Ozempic doses[2] | Nausea (12 to 18%), diarrhea (12 to 17%), vomiting (5 to 9%) at 5 mg to 15 mg. Most reports came during dose escalation[3] |
| Cost range | List price $1,349.02 a month. Self-pay pen $349 to $399 through Novo Nordisk. As little as $25 with commercial insurance and the savings card[4][5] | List price $1,112.16 a month. Self-pay pen $499 through Lilly. As little as $25 with commercial insurance and the savings card[6][7][8] |
This comparison is for education only and is not medical advice. Wegovy and Mounjaro are prescription medicines with distinct FDA-approved indications. Whether either is appropriate for you, and at what dose, is a decision for a licensed clinician.
Is Wegovy the same as Mounjaro?
No. Wegovy (semaglutide) acts on one gut-hormone receptor, GLP-1. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) acts on two, GIP and GLP-1. Their FDA labels differ too. Wegovy is approved for long-term weight management in adults and in children 12 and older with obesity. It is also approved to lower heart attack and stroke risk in adults with heart disease and excess weight, and to treat the liver disease MASH. Mounjaro is approved to lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, in adults and children 10 and older. It also lowers heart attack and stroke risk in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk.[2][3]
Is Wegovy as good as Mounjaro for weight loss?
Not in the head-to-head data. SURMOUNT-5 enrolled 751 adults with obesity and no diabetes. Each person took the highest dose they tolerated for 72 weeks: tirzepatide 10 or 15 mg, or semaglutide 1.7 or 2.4 mg. Weight fell 20.2% on tirzepatide and 13.7% on semaglutide. The tirzepatide group was also more likely to lose at least 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%. The trial was open-label and funded by Eli Lilly. It did not test the 7.2 mg Wegovy dose approved later. The Wegovy weight loss calculator and the Mounjaro weight loss calculator chart average loss week by week from trial data.[1][2]
Which is safer, Wegovy or Mounjaro?
No trial shows one is safer overall. In SURMOUNT-5, stomach and gut side effects were the most common in both groups. Most were mild to moderate and showed up while the dose was going up. In each drug's own placebo-controlled trials, nausea was reported by 44% of adults on Wegovy 2.4 mg and 12% to 18% on Mounjaro 5 mg to 15 mg. Those trials enrolled different people, so the rates do not rank the two drugs. Both labels carry the same boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors, and both are not for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2.[1][2][3]
| Side effect | Wegovy 2.4 mg | Mounjaro 5 mg to 15 mg |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 44% | 12% to 18% |
| Diarrhea | 30% | 12% to 17% |
| Vomiting | 24% | 5% to 9% |
| Constipation | 24% | 6% to 7% |
| Abdominal pain | 20% | 5% to 6% |
Why are people stopping Wegovy?
In Wegovy's trials, 6.8% of adults on the 2.4 mg dose stopped for good because of side effects, versus 3.2% on placebo. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were the most common reasons. In Mounjaro's trials, 3.0% to 6.6% stopped because of stomach side effects, versus 0.4% on placebo. The labels do not track people who stop over price or coverage.[2][3]
Why are people switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy?
The labels do not say why people switch, and neither gives a conversion between the two. They do show a difference in approved uses. Wegovy is approved for weight management. Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes, and insurers cover each brand by its label. Each drug starts at its own lowest dose: Wegovy at 0.25 mg a week, Mounjaro at 2.5 mg a week, each stepping up after at least 4 weeks. The Mounjaro label asks people on birth control pills to switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method for 4 weeks after starting and after each dose increase. A prescriber decides whether and how to switch.[2][3]
Which costs more, Wegovy or Mounjaro?
It depends on how you pay. At list price, Wegovy is $1,349.02 a month and Mounjaro is $1,112.16. Paying cash through the makers, Wegovy pens cost $349 a month at most doses and Mounjaro pens start at $499. With commercial insurance that covers the drug, each maker's savings card can bring a fill to as little as $25. Neither card is open to people on Medicare, Medicaid, or other government insurance.[4][5][6][7][8]
Prices checked October 3, 2026.
| Monthly price | Wegovy | Mounjaro |
|---|---|---|
| List price | $1,349.02 | $1,112.16 |
| Self-pay through the maker | $349 for 0.25 mg through 2.4 mg. $399 for 7.2 mg | From $499 at every dose |
| Commercial insurance with the savings card | As little as $25 | As little as $25 |
Can you take Wegovy and Mounjaro together?
The Wegovy label says using it with any other GLP-1 receptor agonist is not recommended. Mounjaro acts on the GLP-1 receptor, so the two are not meant to be combined. A prescriber decides which one, if either, fits a given patient.[2]
How do Wegovy and Mounjaro compare with Zepbound and Ozempic?
Zepbound is tirzepatide, the same drug as Mounjaro on a weight-loss label. Ozempic is semaglutide, the same drug as Wegovy on a diabetes label. Compare Wegovy vs Zepbound, Mounjaro vs Ozempic, or the two drugs themselves in semaglutide vs tirzepatide.[2][3]
- Aronne LJ et al. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med 2025;393:26-36 (SURMOUNT-5) (NEJM)
- FDA label, Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets, Novo Nordisk (DailyMed)
- FDA label, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injection, Eli Lilly (DailyMed)
- Wegovy list price (wholesale acquisition cost), Novo Nordisk Pricing, March 2026 (Novo Nordisk)
- Wegovy cost and coverage: savings card, self-pay prices, and the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, read October 3, 2026 (Novo Nordisk)
- Mounjaro list price (wholesale acquisition cost), Lilly pricing information, read October 3, 2026 (Eli Lilly)
- Mounjaro savings card terms, read October 3, 2026 (Eli Lilly)
- Mounjaro self-pay price on LillyDirect, read October 3, 2026 (Eli Lilly)