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Learn how to get Mounjaro, a prescription medication used to treat diabetes. Here’s what to know about whether you might qualify, how much it costs, and options for getting it in person or online.
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a type of dual glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) agonist and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonist
It’s an injectable medication administered once weekly. It
It also reduces hunger and increases feelings of fullness by slowing digestion, which may lead to weight loss.
This article examines how to get Mounjaro, including its cost and how to find out whether you qualify.
- At a doctor’s office: in-person care that’s more likely to be covered by your insurance plan
- PlushCare: online, doctor-led weight loss consultation with good insurance coverage and low monthly costs | Skip to review
- Sesame Care: online platform with in-person and same-day appointments | Skip to review
- Noom Med: service combines medical therapies with psychology-based weight loss strategies | Skip to review
A note on getting Mounjaro
All the options below offer Mounjaro to eligible individuals.
Typically, a type 2 diabetes diagnosis is required for Mounjaro’s insurance approval. If you don’t have diabetes but want to take Mounjaro for weight loss, your healthcare professional will decide if Mounjaro is a safe and appropriate choice based on your health needs.
Additionally, due to occasional supply chain issues, Mounjaro may be difficult to get, and your healthcare professional may recommend an alternative.
Finally, because of
You can consult a healthcare professional to ensure you receive non-compounded, FDA-approved GLP-1 medications.
Mounjaro is only available through a prescription, which can be obtained through specific telehealth platforms or by visiting a doctor.
In-person
The best way to get a prescription for Mounjaro is by visiting a medical office.
Licensed healthcare professionals can provide a prescription, including primary care doctors, endocrinologists, bariatric doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.
A provider will likely conduct an exam and ask questions about your medical history, health status, and weight loss goals to determine whether you’re a prescription candidate.
They can also provide information about any necessary lab work or blood tests required before starting the medication.
Once you have a prescription, you can order and pick up Mounjaro directly through your preferred pharmacy.
What to expect at your initial visit
We asked Janelle Duah, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, to explain what individuals should expect to discuss during their initial consultation.
According to Duah, individuals should be prepared to talk about their:
- weight loss goals
- current diet, including a 24-hour recall
- physical activity (type, intensity, duration, and frequency)
- stress and mood
- sleep habits
- personal medical history
- family medical history
- current medications
- allergies
- pertinent labs
Online
Several telehealth platforms offer prescriptions for GLP-1 medications, including Mounjaro.
Typically, these platforms provide a virtual consultation with a healthcare professional to determine whether or not you’re eligible and discuss an appropriate treatment plan based on your needs.
If you qualify, you can typically order the prescription directly through the platform. Sometimes, you can also opt for home delivery or pick up your prescription at your local pharmacy.
Here’s a closer look at some telehealth companies that can prescribe Mounjaro.
Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We evaluate services for consistency with standards of care and best practices, and we look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.
To choose the services on this page, we considered all the GLP-1 services that passed our vetting process. Then, we looked at availability, cost, and the additional resources each service provides to narrow down our list even further.
More ways to get a prescription online
Looking for more options? We rounded up the most reputable places you might consider getting Mounjaro online.
The price of Mounjaro can vary quite a bit depending on many factors, including insurance coverage, pharmacy, and prescribed dose.
Without insurance
Without insurance, the manufacturer’s list price of Mounjaro is $1,069.08 per fill, which includes a 4-week supply of the medication.
However, discounts are also available through services like Optum Perks, which offers discounts at certain pharmacies.
With insurance
If you have insurance, it’s best to contact your insurance company directly to ask whether they cover Mounjaro. Some insurance companies only cover the cost for its FDA-approved use as a type 2 diabetes medication. It’s not FDA-approved for weight loss in people without diabetes, though it’s sometimes prescribed off-label.
Some people with insurance coverage may also be eligible for a Mounjaro savings card from the manufacturer, which provides a 1-month or 3-month prescription for as little as $25.
Even if you have insurance that doesn’t cover Mounjaro, you may still be eligible for a savings card that can save you up to $573 on a one-month prescription.
Although Mounjaro is sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss, it’s currently only FDA-approved as a type 2 diabetes medication.
FDA approval means that the FDA has determined that a drug is safe and effective for a specific use and that the benefits of using the drug to treat the condition outweigh its risks.
Another medication — Zepbound — includes the same active ingredient as Mounjaro. Zepbound is FDA-approved as a weight loss medication. Except the FDA approvals, there’s no difference between the two medications.
Other GLP-1 agonists that are FDA-approved to aid weight loss include semaglutide (Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda).
In general, GLP-1 agonists may be prescribed for weight loss in people with a
A licensed professional will usually only prescribe a GLP-1 agonist for weight loss after you have tried other weight loss methods — including dietary changes, exercise, and other lifestyle changes — without success.
A doctor can help determine whether you might be eligible for a prescription.
In addition to determining whether you might be eligible, a healthcare professional can also guide you on how to use Mounjaro alongside other lifestyle modifications for effective weight management, including diet and exercise.
Although Mounjaro is considered safe when used appropriately, it’s not the right choice for everyone.
Mounjaro isn’t safe for those with certain health conditions, including people who’ve had thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). People with a family history of MTC should also avoid Mounjaro.
Mounjaro is also unsafe for those with a history of:
- multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- diabetic retinopathy
- severe gastrointestinal disease
- conditions affecting the pancreas and kidneys
In addition, people who are hypersensitive to Mounjaro’s active ingredient, tirzepatide, should not take Mounjaro. Hypersensitivity could lead to life threatening side effects, such as anaphylaxis and angioedema, or swelling of the deeper layers of the skin.
There is not enough evidence that Mounjaro is safe to take during pregnancy and while breastfeeding and findings from some animal studies suggest that Mounjaro may be harmful to fetuses. If you’re pregnant or nursing, a doctor may recommend alternative medications that are safe to use.
The most common side effects of Mounjaro are:
- nausea
- diarrhea
- decreased appetite
- vomiting
- constipation
- stomach discomfort
- stomach pain
Using Mounjaro with other diabetes medications may lead to dangerously low blood sugar levels, which is why Mounjaro should be prescribed and monitored by a licensed healthcare professional, such as an endocrinologist.
A note on efficacy
Keep in mind that to maintain weight loss with Mounjaro, you’ll need to take the medication indefinitely. A 2023 clinical trial found that stopping tirzepatide (the generic for Mounjaro) resulted in “substantial regain” of any weight lost while taking the medication.
When deciding whether to take Mounjaro, consider how the medication cost will factor into your budget in the long term.
A licensed healthcare professional, such as an endocrinologist, primary care physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner can prescribe Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes.
Mounjaro can be prescribed off-label for weight loss, even if you don’t have diabetes. It’s typically recommended for people with a BMI over 30, or individuals with a BMI over 27 with at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or obstructive sleep apnea.
Zepbound, which includes the same active ingredient as Mounjaro, is FDA approved as a weight loss medication.
If you’re using Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, you may be eligible to enroll in the manufacturer’s Mounjaro savings card program.
This may provide a 1-month or 3-month prescription for as little as $25 with insurance, or up to $573 off a 1-month prescription without insurance.
Coupons are also available at certain pharmacies through websites such as GoodRx.
Mounjaro is available at Costco, along with many other pharmacies, including Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and Safeway.
However, there is currently a shortage of GLP-1 medications, including Mounjaro.
There are a number of GLP-1 medications used to treat type 2 diabetes. Some of the most common GLP-1 diabetes medications include:
Your doctor can help decide the best medication for you based on your medical history and more.
Mounjaro is an injectable medication that can help manage blood sugar levels and support weight loss. While it’s FDA-approved for people with type 2 diabetes, it’s sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss in people without type 2 diabetes.
Like other types of GLP-1 medications, it requires a prescription, which can be obtained in person or through specific telehealth platforms.
A licensed healthcare professional can determine whether you’re a candidate for Mounjaro and can provide guidance on how to incorporate it into a blood sugar management plan.
