Ozempic vs Mounjaro: Weight Loss, Side Effects, Price
Ozempic (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are both GLP-1 medicines, each a weekly injection. They were tested against each other in SURPASS-2. Ozempic self-pay starts at $199 per month.
- Tested head to head
- SURPASS-2
A quick look at Ozempic and Mounjaro
A side-by-side comparison of Ozempic and Mounjaro
| Ozempic | Mounjaro | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Ozempic |  Mounjaro |
| Active ingredient | semaglutide | tirzepatide |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly |
| How it is taken | Weekly injection | Weekly injection |
| Approved for | Type 2 diabetes, plus heart risk and kidney disease for people with type 2 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes and heart risk |
| First FDA approval | 2017 | 2022 |
| Most common side effect | Nausea 20.3% vs 6.1% on placebo | Nausea 18% vs 4% on placebo |
| List price | $1,027.51 per pen | $1,112.16 per fill |
| Self-pay from | $199 per month | Not listed |
| FDA shortage | Resolved February 21, 2025 | Resolved December 19, 2024 |
Sources: FDA label, FDA label (DailyMed), Novo Nordisk pricing, pricinginfo.lilly.com.
Comparing weight loss through a head-to-head test
The SURPASS-2 trial gave Ozempic to one group and Mounjaro to another, so the numbers are directly comparable.
| Trial | Who took part | Length | Group | A1C change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SURPASS-2 | Adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 5 mg weekly | -2.01 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-2 | Adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 10 mg weekly | -2.24 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-2 | Adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 15 mg weekly | -2.3 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-2 | Adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | 40 weeks | Semaglutide 1 mg weekly | -1.86 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
Trial sources: SURPASS-2 (PubMed).
Side effects compared
Each label compared its own participants with its own placebo group, so start by comparing each drug against its placebo.
| Side effect | Ozempic | Placebo (Ozempic trials) | Mounjaro | Placebo (Mounjaro trials) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 20.3% | 6.1% | 18% | 4% |
| Vomiting | 9.2% | 2.3% | 9% | 2% |
| Diarrhea | 8.8% | 1.9% | 17% | 9% |
| Abdominal pain | 7.3% | 4.6% | 6% | 4% |
| Constipation | 5% | 1.5% | 7% | 1% |
| Decreased Appetite | Not listed | Not listed | 11% | 1% |
| Dyspepsia | Not listed | Not listed | 8% | 3% |
Prices and coverage compared
| Medicine | How you pay | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ozempic | List price before insurance | $1,027.51 per pen |
| Ozempic | Ozempic Savings Offer (insured) | starting at $25 each month, for a term of up to 3 months in total |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: Ozempic pill (from 1.5 mg) | $149 per month |
| Ozempic | When you pay on your own, the intro offer for the Ozempic pen covers the first 2 fills, using doses of 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg | $199 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay option: 1 mg, 0.5 mg, and 0.25 mg doses in the Ozempic pen | $349 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: Ozempic pen 2 mg | $499 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay via TrumpRx | $199 per month |
| 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 |
Prices checked in November 2026: Novo Nordisk pricing, plus NovoCare, TrumpRx, pricinginfo.lilly.com, and mounjaro.lilly.com.
Which should you pick?
- Ozempic is approved for kidney disease with type 2 diabetes.
- Mounjaro is approved for some children under 18.
- Ozempic lists a self-pay price of $199 per month when you pay cash.
Whether you should switch is decided by your prescriber, who considers your health history, other medicines, and coverage.