Mounjaro vs Rybelsus: Weight Loss, Side Effects, Price
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Rybelsus (semaglutide) are both GLP-1 medicines, weekly injection versus daily tablet.
Mounjaro and Rybelsus: a quick look
Mounjaro and Rybelsus compared side by side
| Mounjaro | Rybelsus | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Mounjaro |  Rybelsus |
| Active ingredient | tirzepatide | semaglutide |
| Manufacturer | Eli Lilly | Novo Nordisk |
| How it is taken | Weekly injection | Daily tablet |
| Approved for | Type 2 diabetes and heart risk | Type 2 diabetes and heart risk |
| First FDA approval | 2022 | 2019 |
| Most common side effect | Nausea 18% vs 4% on placebo | Nausea 20% vs 6% on placebo |
| List price | $1,112.16 per fill | $1,027.51 per 30 tablets |
| FDA shortage | Resolved December 19, 2024 | Resolved February 21, 2025 |
Sources: FDA label, FDA label (DailyMed), pricinginfo.lilly.com, Novo Nordisk pricing.
Comparing weight loss
These results come from separate trials because no head-to-head trial has tested them directly. The trials used different groups and had different lengths.
| Trial | Who took part | Length | Group | A1C change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SURPASS-1 | Adults with type 2 diabetes who used only diet and exercise | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 5 mg weekly | -1.87 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-1 | Adults with type 2 diabetes who used only diet and exercise | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 10 mg weekly | -1.89 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-1 | Adults with type 2 diabetes who used only diet and exercise | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 15 mg weekly | -2.07 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
Trial sources: SURPASS-1 (PubMed).
Comparing side effects
Each label's trial tested participants against that trial's placebo group, so compare each medicine with its own placebo first.
| Side effect | Mounjaro | Placebo (Mounjaro trials) | Rybelsus | Placebo (Rybelsus trials) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 18% | 4% | 20% | 6% |
| Diarrhea | 17% | 9% | 10% | 4% |
| Decreased Appetite | 11% | 1% | 9% | 1% |
| Vomiting | 9% | 2% | 8% | 3% |
| Dyspepsia | 8% | 3% | Not listed | Not listed |
| Constipation | 7% | 1% | 6% | 2% |
| Abdominal Pain | 6% | 4% | 11% | 4% |
Prices and coverage compared
| Medicine | How you pay | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mounjaro | List price before insurance | $1,112.16 per fill |
| Mounjaro | Mounjaro Savings Card (insured) | from $25 for up to a 3-month fill |
| Mounjaro | Commercial plan that does not cover it | $499 per month |
| Rybelsus | List price before insurance | $1,027.51 per 30 tablets |
| Rybelsus | RYBELSUS Savings Offer (insured) | for a 1-, 2- or 3-month fill, the price starts at $25 |
In November 2026, prices were checked using pricinginfo.lilly.com, mounjaro.lilly.com, Novo Nordisk pricing, and rybelsus.com.
Who should pick which?
- To avoid needles, you can take Rybelsus as a tablet, while Mounjaro requires a weekly injection.
- Approval for Mounjaro covers some children under 18.
Your prescriber weighs your coverage, other medicines and health history before deciding whether you switch between them.