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Comparison

Mounjaro vs Ozempic

Mounjaro

TIRZEPATIDE

Approved for another condition

Eli Lilly and CompanyLabel version 38, effective 22 April 2026

Ozempic injection

SEMAGLUTIDE

Approved for another condition

A-S Medication SolutionsLabel version 3, effective 22 November 2023

Each stripe is one section of the label, each division in a stripe one entry in that section. The red bar marks a boxed warning.

Mounjaro and Ozempic are two different molecules approved for the same condition. They are frequently discussed as weight loss medications, and neither label approves them for that. This page sets the two labels side by side and states what each one actually covers.

01

Side by side, straight from the labels

From the FDA label

This table is generated from the two source labels, not typed out by hand, so it cannot drift from what the regulator approved.

Label sectionMounjaroTIRZEPATIDEOzempic injectionSEMAGLUTIDE
Active ingredientTirzepatideGIP and GLP-1 receptor agonistSemaglutideGLP-1 receptor agonist
SupplyPrescriptionPrescription
What pharmacies payAcquisition cost, not retail$538.64 per millilitre, brand$331.98 per millilitre, brand
Boxed warningWARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORSWARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS
What the FDA approved it for
  • MOUNJARO ® is indicated 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.
  • MOUNJARO ® is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated 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.
  • an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease.
  • Has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis. Consider another antidiabetic therapy.
  • Not for treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Forms and strengths
  • Injection: Clear, colorless to slightly yellow solution in pre-filled single-dose pens, single-dose vials, multi-dose vials, or single-patient-use KwikPens, each available in the following strengths.
  • The multi-dose vials and single-patient-use KwikPen each contain 4 doses: Single-dose Pen or Vial 2.5 mg/0.5 mL 5 mg/0.5 mL 7.5 mg/0.5 mL 10 mg/0.5 mL 12.5 mg/0.5 mL 15 mg/0.5 mL Multi-dose Vial (4...
  • Single-patient-use pen that delivers 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg per injection Injection: 4 mg/3 mL (1.34 mg/mL) available in:
  • Single-patient-use pen that delivers 1 mg per injection Injection: 8 mg/3 mL (2.68 mg/mL) available in:
  • Single-patient-use pen that delivers 2 mg per injection
How the label says it is taken
  • The recommended starting dosage is 2.5 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly.
  • After 4 weeks, increase to 5 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly.
  • If additional glycemic control is needed, increase the dosage in 2.5 mg increments after at least 4 weeks on the current dose.
  • Maximum dosage: Adults: 15 mg subcutaneously once weekly. Pediatric patients 10 years of age and older: 10 mg subcutaneously once weekly. Administer once weekly at any time of day, with or without meals.
  • Inject subcutaneously in the abdomen, thigh, or another person should inject in the back of the upper arm. Rotate injection sites with each dose.
  • Refer to the Full Prescribing Information for additional important administration instructions about MOUNJARO presentations.
  • Administer once weekly at any time of day, with or without meals.
  • Start at 0.25 mg once weekly. After 4 weeks, increase the dosage to 0.5 mg once weekly.
  • If additional glycemic control is needed, increase the dosage to 1 mg once weekly after at least 4 weeks on the 0.5 mg dose.
  • If additional glycemic control is needed, increase the dosage to 2 mg once weekly after at least 4 weeks on the 1 mg dosage.
  • If a dose is missed administer within 5 days of missed dose.
  • Inject subcutaneously in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Important Administration Instructions
Most common adverse reactions
  • most common adverse reactions, reported in ≥5% of patients treated with MOUNJARO are nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, dyspepsia, and abdominal pain.
  • most common adverse reactions, reported in ≥5% of patients treated with OZEMPIC are: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation.
Warnings and precautions
  • Acute Pancreatitis: Has been observed in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, or MOUNJARO. Discontinue if pancreatitis is suspected.
  • Hypoglycemia with Concomitant Use of Insulin Secretagogues or Insulin: Concomitant use with an insulin secretagogue or insulin may increase the risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia. Reducing dose of insulin secretagogue or insulin may be necessary.
  • Hypersensitivity Reactions: Serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis and angioedema) have been reported. Discontinue MOUNJARO if suspected and promptly seek medical advice.
  • Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume Depletion: Monitor renal function in patients reporting adverse reactions that could lead to volume depletion.
  • Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions: Use has been associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, sometimes severe. MOUNJARO is not recommended in patients with severe gastroparesis.
  • Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with a History of Diabetic Retinopathy: Has not been studied in patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy requiring acute therapy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, or diabetic macular edema. Monitor patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy for progression.
  • Acute Gallbladder Disease: Has occurred in clinical trials. If cholelithiasis is suspected, gallbladder studies and clinical follow-up are indicated.
  • Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia or Deep Sedation: Has been reported in patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists undergoing elective surgeries or procedures. Instruct patients to inform healthcare providers of any planned surgeries or procedures.
  • Pancreatitis: Has been reported in clinical trials. Discontinue promptly if pancreatitis is suspected. Do not restart if pancreatitis is confirmed.
  • Diabetic Retinopathy Complications: Has been reported in a clinical trial. Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored.
  • Never share an OZEMPIC pen between patients, even if the needle is changed.
  • Hypoglycemia: Concomitant use with an insulin secretagogue or insulin may increase the risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia. Reducing dose of insulin secretagogue or insulin may be necessary.
  • Acute Kidney Injury: Monitor renal function in patients with renal impairment reporting severe adverse gastrointestinal reactions.
  • Hypersensitivity Reactions: Serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis and angioedema) have been reported. Discontinue OZEMPIC if suspected and promptly seek medical advice.
  • Acute Gallbladder Disease: If cholelithiasis or cholecystitis are suspected, gallbladder studies are indicated. Risk of Thyroid C-Cell Tumors In mice and rats, semaglutide caused a dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent increase in the incidence of thyroid C-cell tumors (adenomas and carcinomas) after lifetime exposure at clinically relevant plasma exposures.
Contraindications
  • MOUNJARO is contraindicated in patients with: A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
  • Known serious hypersensitivity to tirzepatide or any of the excipients in MOUNJARO.
  • Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, have been reported with MOUNJARO.
  • Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2.
  • Personal or family history of MTC or in patients with MEN 2.
  • Serious hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or any of the excipients in OZEMPIC.
Drug interactions
  • MOUNJARO delays gastric emptying and has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications.
  • Oral Medications: OZEMPIC delays gastric emptying.
  • May impact absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications.
  • Use with caution.
Label version22 April 202622 November 2023

Comparison of Mounjaro vs Ozempic taken from the FDA labels.

02

Both are approved for type 2 diabetes, and neither for weight loss

Written by us

The Mounjaro label indicates it as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control in adults and paediatric patients 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes. The Ozempic label indicates it for the same purpose in adults, and separately to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults who have type 2 diabetes together with established cardiovascular disease.

Weight loss appears as an approved use in neither document. Both active ingredients do hold weight management approvals in the United States, but under different brand names and separate labels: tirzepatide as Zepbound, semaglutide as Wegovy. That is why comparing Mounjaro with Ozempic is not the same question as comparing Zepbound with Wegovy.

03

The active ingredients are different

Written by us

Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which its label describes as a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. Ozempic contains semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. Acting on an additional receptor is a difference in how the molecule is described, not a statement about results, and neither label compares itself to the other.

04

The ages covered are not the same

Written by us

The Mounjaro indication covers adults and paediatric patients aged 10 years and older. The Ozempic indication covers adults. This is one of the few differences between the two labels that is stated plainly rather than left to be inferred.

05

The warnings are the same class warnings

Written by us

Both labels carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumours observed in rodents, and both are contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. Both also list serious hypersensitivity reactions as a contraindication.

The Ozempic label adds two limitations that the Mounjaro label does not state in the same terms: it is not for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, and it has not been studied in people with a history of pancreatitis, for whom the label says to consider another antidiabetic therapy.

06

What this page does not tell you

Written by us

It does not say which one a person should take, and it does not rank them. The two were approved on separate trial programmes that were not designed to compare them against each other, so the numbers in one label cannot be read against the numbers in the other. Prescribing outside an approved use is a decision for a licensed clinician and is outside what this page describes.

07

Common questions

Written by us
Is Mounjaro or Ozempic approved for weight loss?
Neither. Weight loss does not appear as an approved use in either label. The same two active ingredients are approved for chronic weight management under different names, tirzepatide as Zepbound and semaglutide as Wegovy, each with its own separate label.
Are Mounjaro and Ozempic the same kind of medicine?
Both act at the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor. The Mounjaro label describes tirzepatide as acting at the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor as well. They are different molecules with different approvals, not two names for one product.
Which one works better?
The labels do not answer that. Each was approved on its own trials, and those trials were not designed to compare the two products, so this page does not present one as better than the other.
08

Sources

Every fact above comes from one of these documents. The date is the effective date of the label version this page was built from.

Other comparisons in this category

Page last updated: 5 August 2026

Compiled by the HealthyStudy editorial team from FDA source documents. No medical reviewer is credited on this page, because none reviewed it.