Wegovy vs. Mounjaro: 6 Important Differences - GoodRx (2024)

Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) have been making headlines since they came to market. The fact that people tend to lose a significant amount of weight while taking them is one of many notable qualities.

These two injectable medications have a lot in common, but there are several differences between Wegovy and Mounjaro — including the fact that they are FDA approved for different uses. Here’s what you need to know about six of those differences.

1. Wegovy and Mounjaro have different FDA-approved uses

The biggest difference between Wegovy and Mounjaro is in their FDA-approved uses. In short, Wegovy is a weight-loss medication, while Mounjaro is a Type 2 diabetes medication.

Wegovy is approved for weight loss in adults and adolescents ages 12 and older. It’s also approved to lower the risk of serious cardiovascular problems in certain adults (more on this below). Wegovy isn’t approved to treat diabetes. A lower-dose version of Wegovy, called Ozempic, is approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. It’s also commonly compared to Mounjaro.

Mounjaro is currently only approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes in adults. It works best when combined with a diabetes-friendly diet and regular exercise. It can be taken by itself or with other diabetes medications, such as metformin.

Is Mounjaro approved for weight loss?

No, Mounjaro isn’t approved for weight loss. But tirzepatide (its active ingredient) is approved for weight loss under the brand name Zepbound. You can read more about how Zepbound and Wegovy compare in another GoodRx Health article.

2. Different people are eligible for Wegovy and Mounjaro

Wegovy is approved for adults who are considered to be obese. It’s also approved for adults who are considered overweight and have heart disease, or at least one weight-related health condition, such as Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. What’s more, Wegovy can also be prescribed for adolescents ages 12 years or older who are considered to be obese for their age and sex.

Mounjaro can be prescribed to adults who have Type 2 diabetes. There is no BMI requirement to qualify for the medication. But oral diabetes medications, such as metformin, are often more convenient or affordable for many people. Mounjaro might be recommended if weight loss is one of your diabetes-treatment goals, or if other medications aren’t working well enough.

Can you take Wegovy and Mounjaro together?

No, it’s not recommended to take both Wegovy and Mounjaro. As we’ll discuss below, they work in similar ways. So taking both could raise your risk of side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

If you’re taking the maximum dose of Mounjaro for diabetes and haven’t met your weight loss goals, it’s best to discuss the situation with your healthcare team. There are other weight loss medications that may be safer to combine with Mounjaro than Wegovy is.

3. Wegovy and Mounjaro work in similar but different ways

Both Wegovy and Mounjaro work by mimicking gut hormones called incretins. Incretins signal the pancreas to release insulin after eating and tell the liver to make less glucose (sugar). They also slow the passage of food through the digestive tract and act on areas of the brain responsible for regulating your appetite.

When a medication mimics an incretin, it can help you feel fuller faster and for longer when you eat, and it can reduce feelings of hunger. It can also help your body regulate your blood glucose levels. Wegovy and Mounjaro act slightly differently because they mimic different incretins.

Wegovy is part of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist medication class. After injecting a dose, it acts like the incretin GLP-1.

Similarly, Mounjaro acts like GLP-1 in the body. However, it also mimics an incretin called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). So it belongs to a different medication class: dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists. Medications in this class can help manage blood glucose levels better than GLP-1 agonists for people with Type 2 diabetes.

Can you switch between Wegovy and Mounjaro?

Possibly, but it depends on what health conditions you have. Remember, Mounjaro is currently approved only for Type 2 diabetes. Taking it for weight loss when you don’t have diabetes would be considered an off-label use. In this case, Zepbound may be a better option.

As mentioned above, people with Type 2 diabetes who are considered to be overweight may qualify for Wegovy. However, this group of people would also be eligible to take Mounjaro. In these instances, the choice may come down to your other diabetes treatment goals and the cost of the medications.

If your prescriber gives you the OK to change medications, follow their instructions closely. There are no standard recommendations for how to switch between Wegovy and Mounjaro. You may need to start with a low dosage of the medication you’re switching to to help limit side effects.

4. Mounjaro likely causes more weight loss than Wegovy, but the jury’s still out

Wegovy and Mounjaro can both lead to significant weight loss. But Mounjaro seems to cause more.

In clinical trials, Mounjaro was compared to placebo (an injection with no medication in it) for about 18 months. On average, people with diabetes taking the highest dose (15 mg) of Mounjaro lost 15.7% of their body weight by the end of the study. What’s more, just under one-third of people reported at least a 20% body-weight reduction.

Wegovy was compared to a placebo for about 16 months in people with diabetes. People taking Wegovy reported a 9.6% average reduction in body weight.

Keep in mind, Wegovy and Mounjaro haven’t been compared directly to each other yet. Head-to-head studies are the best way to see the differences in how two medications work. An ongoing clinical trial will compare Wegovy and Zepbound for weight loss in people without diabetes. This study is expected to be completed in November 2024.

5. Wegovy has proven cardiovascular benefits

Another key difference to consider is that Wegovy has proven cardiovascular benefits. So if you have heart disease, your prescriber may prefer it to Mounjaro.

In a clinical trial, Wegovy lowered the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) by 20%. MACE is a term that includes heart attacks, strokes, or cardiovascular death. Based on this clinical trial, the FDA approved Wegovy to help lower the risk of MACE in people with heart disease and who are considered to be overweight or obese.

Mounjaro isn’t currently approved for any heart-related uses. But an ongoing clinical trial is evaluating it for MACE reduction in people with Type 2 diabetes. This study is expected to be completed in October 2024.

6. Insurance coverage may be different for Wegovy and Mounjaro

The coverage of Wegovy and Mounjaro may vary depending on your insurance plan. For instance, your plan might not include coverage for weight management medications like Wegovy. However, it might cover it for MACE reduction if you have heart disease. And your plan may cover Mounjaro for treating Type 2 diabetes. It's a good idea to check with your plan in advance to know the specific details of what is covered.

How to save on Wegovy and Mounjaro

Wegovy and Mounjaro are both available as brand-name medications. There are ways to save on your prescription, such as manufacturer copay savings cards.

If you’re eligible, you could pay as little as $0 per month for Wegovy with a copay savings card. There’s also a copay savings card available for Mounjaro. If you’re eligible, you could pay as little as $25 for a 1-, 2-, or 3-month supply. Keep in mind that you may need a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis to qualify for Mounjaro.