Same active ingredient (tirzepatide); different products with different FDA-approved indications. Mounjaro: type 2 diabetes. Zepbound: chronic weight management plus, since December 2024, moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity; it was the first drug FDA-approved for OSA.
Side-by-side
| Dimension | Mounjaro | Zepbound |
|---|---|---|
| FDA-approved use | Type 2 diabetes | Chronic weight management; moderate-to-severe OSA with obesity |
| Approximate list price | About $1,069/mo (July 2026) | About $1,059/mo (July 2026) |
| Self-pay (October 15, 2026) | Not on file | $299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg), $449 (7.5–15 mg with each refill within 45 days; otherwise $499 at 7.5 mg and $699 at 10–15 mg), KwikPen or vial through LillyDirect |
Who should pick Mounjaro
Patients with type 2 diabetes — Mounjaro. Most commercial insurance covers Mounjaro for T2D.
Who should pick Zepbound
Patients with obesity (without diabetes), or obesity with moderate-to-severe OSA — Zepbound under the December 2024 OSA indication.
Frequently asked
Same drug?
Same active ingredient (tirzepatide). Different products with different FDA-approved indications.
Does Zepbound work for OSA?
Yes. In the SURMOUNT-OSA trials, tirzepatide reduced the apnea-hypopnea index by about 25 to 29 events per hour at 52 weeks, compared with about 5 with placebo. Zepbound was the first drug FDA-approved for OSA.
Which is cheaper?
List prices are similar (about $1,000–$1,100/mo, July 2026 figures). Zepbound self-pay through LillyDirect is lower: $299 to $449/mo depending on dose (read October 15, 2026). Compounded tirzepatide costs less again (for example, NexLife lists $129 month to month or $115/mo on a 12-month plan, read November 6, 2026), but it is not FDA-approved and is not the same product as Zepbound or Mounjaro.