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Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a prescription drug for type 2 diabetes and an off-label weight loss medication. Several places offer Mounjaro prescriptions online, including Calibrate, PlushCare, and Everlywell.
According to the FDA, there is currently a shortage of Mounjaro. Healthcare professionals may recommend another GLP-1 agonist medication, such as one of the branded versions of semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy), as an alternative.
Several reputable telehealth companies offer Mounjaro prescriptions online. Telehealth services potentially offer people a faster, more convenient, and more discreet way of getting a Mounjaro prescription than visiting a doctor’s office in person.
Medical News Today carefully vets each telehealth company in our articles. Our considerations include:
Safety: All the companies in this article follow Health Information Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines. Also, the companies will not send a prescription until a doctor reviews any medical history and lab results.
Accessibility: People can talk with a qualified healthcare professional in their state, and some companies offer healthcare professionals who speak languages other than English. Some services offer instant messaging, which may be more convenient for those who do not feel comfortable talking on the phone.
Insurance coverage for medication: Many people with insurance coverage can receive Mounjaro for as little as $25 per month. The companies in this article will work with insurance providers to get as much coverage as possible.
Subscription price: Many telehealth companies do not accept insurance for weight management medications. We chose some of the most affordable options for people with and without insurance.
Yes, people can buy Mounjaro online. However, they will need a valid prescription to do so.
It is important to note that there is currently a shortage of Mounjaro. Healthcare professionals may be unable to prescribe Mounjaro and may instead offer other GLP-1 medications that work similarly.
Can I buy Mounjaro over the counter?
People cannot safely buy Mounjaro over the counter (OTC). This drug is prescription-only, which means reputable pharmacies will sell it only to people with a valid prescription from a doctor or prescribing healthcare professional.
Alli is an alternative OTC weight loss medication. The FDA approved this oral tablet in 2007 for managing weight alongside a calorie deficit. However, Alli has approval only for weight loss, not for the management of diabetes symptoms.
Alli is available to buy online at retailers such as Amazon.
A person should always consult a healthcare professional before purchasing OTC weight medication to ensure that it is the appropriate choice for their circumstances.
It is important to get a Mounjaro prescription only from reputable telehealth services. Reputable companies will:
have qualified healthcare professionals available in a person’s state
follow HIPAA guidelines
provide a prescription only after a doctor reviews a person’s medical history and any relevant lab tests
allow people to make an appointment and discuss medication with a qualified healthcare professional
take payment through secure checkouts
Once a person has a prescription, it is important to find a legitimate pharmacy. The FDA says a safe online pharmacy will always:
require a doctor’s prescription
provide a physical U.S. address and telephone number
have a licensed pharmacist available to answer questions
have a license from a state board of pharmacy
Avoiding compounded and counterfeit Mounjaro
Due to the worldwide shortage of GLP-1 medications, some pharmacies may offer compounded drugs. These drugs contain some of the same active ingredients as branded GLP-1 drugs, but the FDA has not reviewed these compounds for safety or effectiveness. The FDA has not issued temporary guidance to allow compounded GLP-1 medications at this time.
Additionally, people should be wary of counterfeit Mounjaro, especially during a drug shortage. Eli Lilly, Mounjaro’s manufacturer, recently filed a lawsuit against several pharmacies for selling compounded products or counterfeit products allegedly containing tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro. The company states that the counterfeit products contained sugar alcohol instead.
People who live in an area with a Mounjaro shortage may wish to consider a different GLP-1 medication. Ozempic is an alternative for managing diabetes symptoms, while Wegovy and Zepbound have FDA approval for weight loss.
The FDA has approved Mounjaro only for managing type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. However, there is enough evidence that Mounjaro can help people lose weight, so doctors may prescribe it off-label for this use.
GLP-1 agonist drugs such as Mounjaro work by increasing insulin production in the body and reducing glucagon production. A side effect of this mechanism is a reduction in appetite and food intake.
The authors of a 2022 mini-review concluded that tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, was more effective in treating type 2 diabetes and promoting weight loss than semaglutide was in the treatment of diabetes and obesity.
A 2023 review found that tirzepatide can lead to a 5% to 15% reduction in body weight in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity. The authors also found that this drug was more effective than other GLP-1 medications and placebos.
In August 2023, the FDA approved Zepbound for weight loss. This drug contains the same active ingredient as Mounjaro. According to the FDA, clinical trials have shown that Zepbound can reduce body weight by 5% to 18%. Many telehealth companies offer Zepbound alongside other GLP-1 drugs.
The cost of Mounjaro varies between pharmacies and will depend on insurance coverage. According to Eli Lilly, Mounjaro’s manufacturer, people who have commercial insurance and qualify for a Mounjaro Savings Card can get a 1- or 3-month supply for as little as $25.
The table below provides estimates of how much a person without insurance can expect to pay for a 1-month supply of 0.5-milligram Mounjaro from popular pharmacies, according to Optum Perks.
Rite Aid
$1,000
Walgreens
$1,100
Target
$1,100
Walmart
$1,100
Costco
$1,200
Saving money on Mounjaro
With a Mounjaro Savings Card, a person may pay as little as $25 for a 1-month supply of Mounjaro. However, to qualify for this card, a person must meet the following criteria:
have a commercial medication insurance plan
receive a Mounjaro prescription for type 2 diabetes or obesity with a related health condition
be a resident of the United States or Puerto Rico
be over the age of 18 years
not have Medicare, Medicaid, or any other government-funded healthcare programs
Other savings cards are also available to help a person save up to 80% on prescriptions. Examples include:
Yes, there is a Mounjaro shortage. Healthcare professionals may suggest another GLP-1 medication, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound, if there is a shortage in a person’s area.
There is not a generic version of Mounjaro available for sale. The active ingredient in Mounjaro is tirzepatide. This same ingredient is in Zepbound, a GLP-1 medication specifically for weight loss.
Yes, Zepbound is a prescription medication. Pharmacies will not sell Zepbound without a valid prescription.
The FDA has not yet approved tirzepatide for weight loss or the management of type 2 diabetes. To approve the generic version of Mounjaro or Zepbound, the FDA will need clear evidence that tirzepatide works as well as the branded medication.
Zepbound, which contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, received FDA approval for weight loss in August 2023.
Mounjaro and Zepbound contain the same active ingredient, tirzepatide.
However, Mounjaro is FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes, while Zepbound’s approval is for weight management.
Mounjaro can help manage type 2 diabetes symptoms and promote weight loss. Getting a prescription online may be faster, more convenient, and more discreet than visiting a doctor’s office in person.
People can get a Mounjaro prescription online through telehealth companies. It is important to choose a reputable company and a safe pharmacy, especially because there have been reports of pharmacies selling compounded and counterfeit Mounjaro.
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