Zepbound Shortage? Status by Strength and How to Find Stock

No. Zepbound is not in shortage now. Tirzepatide: Shortage resolved. Confirmation came from the FDA on December 19, 2024.

Shortage: Resolved
Lowest self-pay: $299 a month
Prescription: RequiredFDA label (DailyMed)

Zepbound overview

How long it remains in the body

The half-life is 5 to 6 days: at 5.5 d half is gone, and about 3% is left once five half-lives have passed (27.5 d).

How much weight came off in its main trial

In SURMOUNT-1 over 72 weeks, people lost 20.9% of body weight, versus 3.1% on placebo.

What it costs across time

In US dollars, monthly price points cover the list price and self-pay offers, each taken from the maker's price page.

Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), Eli Lilly 1 2, cnbc.com.

Every legitimate way to get Zepbound, ranked

Ways to get it, starting with the cheapest
Route	Who it is for	What you pay
Your doctor, with insurance and the savings card	Commercial insurance that covers it	Up to a 3-month fill for as little as $25
LillyDirect: LillyDirect vial or KwikPen 2.5 mg	Anyone with a prescription, no insurance needed	$299 a month
TrumpRx listing (vial, starting)	Self-pay only	$299 a month
Walmart Pharmacy: LillyDirect self-pay (lowest dose)	Cash at the pharmacy counter	$299 a month
Telehealth: WeightWatchers Med+, Zepbound (self-pay)	Online visit, medicine shipped	$373 a month all in

Prices checked November 2026. Each price links to its source page.

Sources: pricinginfo.lilly.com, zepbound.lilly.com, Eli Lilly, TrumpRx.

Who qualifies for it

Every GLP-1 sold in the US requires a prescription. A prescriber writes one for a use approved by the label:

For long-term weight loss and weight maintenance, adults with obesity can use it with diet and activity. It is also for adults who are overweight with a weight-related condition.
Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea is treated with it, in adults with obesity.

Required:FDA label on DailyMed

Telehealth compared

Programs that offer Zepbound through telehealth
Program	Medicine option	Medicine price	Membership	All in
WeightWatchers Med+	Zepbound (self-pay)	$299 a month	$74 a month	$373 a month
Ro	Zepbound KwikPen, starting dose	$299 a month	$149 a month	$448 a month
Hims & Hers	Zepbound	$1,899 a month	$149 a month after first month	$2,048 a month

Each program's own pricing page lists the prices. We make no money from any of them.

Sources: weightwatchers.com, ro.co, hims.com.

Current shortage status

Tirzepatide: Shortage resolved. Confirmation came from the FDA on December 19, 2024.

First listed on the FDA shortage list: December 15, 2022
Shortage resolved: December 19, 2024
State pharmacies had to stop compounding copies: February 18, 2025
Required date for outsourcing facilities to stop: March 19, 2025

Source: FDA.

Scam signals

No prescription needed: a seller that skips prescriptions is not licensed as a pharmacy in the US.
A brand price far below what the manufacturer charges: the lowest self-pay price for the brand is $299 a month
Selling a compounded drug as the brand means it is not FDA approved and is not Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound.
A claim that it matches the brand: the FDA sent 30 warning letters to telehealth companies over misleading claims.
More than 730 reports of adverse events linked to compounded tirzepatide are on file with the FDA.
The FTC acted against one program over a monthly price that leaves the drug out; see the NextMed review.

Sources: pricinginfo.lilly.com, zepbound.lilly.com, Eli Lilly, TrumpRx.

Where to get it in your state

Hims & Hers: some of the 50 states have no service
Noom Med: some of the 50 states have no service
NovoCare Pharmacy: its delivery network reaches all 50 states, plus DC, Puerto Rico

Medicaid rules affect this route most. weight-loss GLP-1s are now covered by 10 state Medicaid programs. Select your state to view its drug list and the rules for prior authorization:

Sources: hims.com, noom.com, NovoCare.