This article explains how Ozempic and Mounjaro are similar and different. You can view detailed articles about Ozempic and Mounjaro if you’d like more information about these drugs.
Questions about Ozempic and Mounjaro
Below, you’ll find answers to some common questions about Ozempic and Mounjaro.
Can Ozempic or Mounjaro be used for weight loss?
Ozempic and Mounjaro are not approved for weight loss. But doctors may prescribe either of these drugs off-label for this purpose. (With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.) Doctors prescribe Ozempic and Mounjaro to help manage blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes. (For more details, see the “Uses of Ozempic and Mounjaro” section below.)
To learn more about using Ozempic or Mounjaro for weight loss, talk with your doctor. They can recommend options for you. You can also see these articles about Ozempic for weight loss and Mounjaro for weight loss.
Is it safe to switch from Ozempic to Mounjaro?
Possibly, if your doctor recommends it. Doctors prescribe Ozempic and Mounjaro to help manage blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes. They work similarly in your body. Your doctor can tell you more about switching from one drug to another for this purpose.
Keep in mind that you should not stop your current treatment or switch between drugs without your doctor’s recommendation.
If you have other questions about switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro or vice versa, talk with your doctor.
How do Ozempic and Mounjaro compare with Wegovy?
Doctors prescribe Ozempic and Mounjaro to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is also used to lower certain risks, such as stroke and heart attack, in adults with heart disease and type 2 diabetes. But Wegovy is prescribed for a different use.
Specifically, Wegovy is used for long-term weight management in certain adults and children. Although used for different purposes, Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.)
To learn more about how Ozempic and Mounjaro compare with Wegovy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Between Ozempic and Mounjaro, is one a better treatment for type 2 diabetes?
Doctors may prescribe either Ozempic or Mounjaro to help manage blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes. In studies, Ozempic and Mounjaro were both effective for this purpose.
That said, these medications differ in some ways. For instance:
- Ozempic is also used to lower certain risks, such as stroke and heart attack, related to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Mounjaro helps the body release more insulin (a hormone that decreases blood sugar levels) and slows sugar production in your liver.
Keep in mind that your results from using Ozempic or Mounjaro may differ from those seen in studies.
Your doctor can help determine whether one option is better for your condition. They’ll recommend this based on your specific needs and health factors.
Talk with your doctor if you’d like to learn more about which drug is right for you.
Side effects of Ozempic and Mounjaro
Ozempic and Mounjaro may cause mild or serious side effects. Some of the more common mild side effects of each drug are listed below. Serious side effects of Ozempic and Mounjaro are also listed.
Keep in mind that your side effects may differ from those listed below. They can vary based on your overall health, your age, and any other medications you take.
This article does not include all possible side effects of these medications. To find more information, you can view the prescribing information for Ozempic and Mounjaro. You can also check out these articles about Ozempic side effects and Mounjaro side effects.
Mild side effects
Below are some of the mild side effects reported with Ozempic and Mounjaro:
| Ozempic | Mounjaro | |
| constipation | ✓ | ✓ |
| nausea and vomiting | ✓ | ✓ |
| abdominal pain | ✓ | ✓ |
| diarrhea | ✓ | ✓ |
| mild allergic reaction | ✓* | ✓ |
* An allergic reaction is possible with Ozempic. It wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies. But allergic reaction has been reported since the drug became available for use.
Serious side effects
Below are serious side effects reported with Ozempic and Mounjaro:
| Ozempic | Mounjaro | |
|---|---|---|
| low blood sugar, particularly when used with certain other diabetes drugs | ✓ | ✓ |
| severe digestive problems, which may lead to dehydration and kidney problems | ✓ | ✓ |
| pancreatitis (inflammation of your pancreas) | ✓ | ✓ |
| gallbladder disease, such as gallstones | ✓ | ✓ |
| new or worsening diabetic retinopathy (damage to your retina in your eyes due to diabetes) | ✓ | ✓ |
| serious allergic reaction | ✓* | ✓ |
| boxed warning: risk of thyroid cancer† | ✓ | ✓ |
* An allergic reaction is possible with Ozempic. It wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies. But allergic reaction has been reported since the drug became available for use.
† For details about this side effect, see the “Warnings for Ozempic and Mounjaro” section below.
Serious side effects are possible with many drugs, but they’re not common. If you have serious side effects from Ozempic or Mounjaro, call your doctor right away. If your symptoms are severe or you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.
Cost of Ozempic and Mounjaro
As with other medications, the cost of Ozempic and Mounjaro can vary. Their price may be affected by:
- whether your health insurance covers them if you have coverage
- the pharmacy you purchase them from
Coupons and cost savings
To view drug prices when Optum Perks coupons are applied, see this coupon page for Ozempic and this coupon page for Mounjaro. You can also check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
The options described in this article may also help you save on your prescription.
Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.
Free prescription coupons
Seriously … free. Explore prices that beat the competition 70% of the time.
Get free cardNote: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Generic or biosimilar versions
Below is information about whether Ozempic or Mounjaro is available in a generic version.
A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.)
Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.
Here’s a summary about generics of Ozempic and Mounjaro:
| Ozempic | Mounjaro | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | semaglutide | tirzepatide |
| Available as a generic | no | no |
Uses of Ozempic and Mounjaro
Here’s a summary of Ozempic’s and Mounjaro’s approved uses:
| Ozempic | Mounjaro | |
|---|---|---|
| Approved uses | • managing blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes • lowering certain risks, such as stroke and heart attack, related to heart disease and type 2 diabetes | • managing blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes |
| Prescribed to | adults | adults |
Doctors prescribe Ozempic and Mounjaro alongside diet and exercise for managing blood sugar levels.
Doctors may not prescribe Ozempic or Mounjaro in certain situations. For example, if you have type 1 diabetes, your doctor may recommend that you do not use Ozempic or Mounjaro. And if you’ve had pancreatitis (inflammation of your pancreas) in the past, they may recommend that you do not use either drug.
If you’d like to know more about using either medication for your condition, ask your doctor. They can recommend whether Ozempic or Mounjaro is an option to consider.
Dosage of Ozempic and Mounjaro
Below is dosage information for the condition that doctors prescribe Ozempic and Mounjaro to treat. To find detailed dosage information for all conditions that Ozempic and Mounjaro treat, see these articles about Ozempic dosage and Mounjaro dosage.
Below are dosages provided by the drugmakers of Ozempic and Mounjaro. If your doctor prescribes either medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. They’ll advise the dosage that’s best for your condition. Do not adjust your dosage without first talking with your doctor.
Ozempic’s dosage
Below is a summary of Ozempic’s recommended dosages in adults. Strength is measured in milligrams (mg).
| Purpose | How it’s used | Recommended dose | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| managing blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes | injection under your skin | starts at 0.25 mg for 4 weeks, then increased every 4 weeks to a maximum dose of 2 mg | once per week |
Mounjaro’s dosage
Below is a summary of Mounjaro’s recommended dosages in adults. Strength is measured in milligrams (mg).
| Purpose | How it’s used | Recommended dose | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| managing blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes | injection under your skin | starts at 2.5 mg for 4 weeks then increased by 2.5 mg every 4 weeks to a maximum of 15 mg | once per week |
Warnings for Ozempic and Mounjaro
Doctors may not recommend some medications for you if you have certain factors that affect your health. These are known as a drug’s warnings.
Some people should not use Ozempic or Mounjaro, and others should use them cautiously.
Warnings for Ozempic and Mounjaro are summarized below. Before using either medication, talk with your doctor about your health conditions, past surgeries, and any medications you take. Your doctor can recommend whether either drug is safe for you.
Boxed warning for Ozempic and Mounjaro: Risk of thyroid cancer
Ozempic and Mounjaro have a boxed warning about the risk of thyroid cancer. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This risk is based on animal studies of semaglutide (the active ingredient* in Ozempic) and tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro). The risk of thyroid cancer in humans using either drug is not known for certain. Still, doctors may not prescribe Ozempic or Mounjaro in certain situations that increase the risk of thyroid cancer. These include having a personal or family history of either rare condition below:
- a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma
- an endocrine condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2
With thyroid cancer, you may have symptoms such as a hoarse voice, trouble swallowing, and a lump in your neck.
If you have symptoms of thyroid cancer with Ozempic or Mounjaro, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely give you tests to check for thyroid cancer.
To learn more, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.
Other warnings
In addition to the boxed warnings above, Ozempic and Mounjaro have other warnings. These are summarized in the table below:
| Ozempic | Mounjaro | |
|---|---|---|
| diabetic retinopathy | ✓ | ✓ |
| kidney disease | ✓ | ✓ |
| severe problems with your stomach or intestines | ✓ | ✓ |
| allergic reaction to either drug or any of their ingredients | ✓ | ✓ |
| currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant | ✓ | ✓ |
| currently breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed | ✓ | ✓ |
You can view more detailed articles about Ozempic and Mounjaro if you’d like to know more about warnings for these drugs. You can also view the prescribing information for Ozempic and Mounjaro.
What to ask a doctor
If you’re trying to decide whether Ozempic or Mounjaro is better for you, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the best option.
Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Would Ozempic or Mounjaro interact with any other medications I’m taking?
- How long should it take before Ozempic or Mounjaro starts working?
- Are certain side effects more common with Ozempic or Mounjaro?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.