Mounjaro vs. Ozempic: Dosing, A1C, Weight Loss & Cost

THE SHORT ANSWER

In the SURPASS-2 head-to-head trial, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) 15mg reduced A1C by up to 2.30% and body weight by 13.1% over 40 weeks, vs. 1.86% and 6.7% for Ozempic (semaglutide) 1mg. Ozempic's newer 2mg dose wasn't part of that comparison.

Frías JP et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2021 (SURPASS-2, NCT03987919). Not medical advice — individual response varies; talk to your prescriber before switching.

SEC. 01

Side by side

Feature

Mounjaro

Ozempic

Active ingredient

TIRZEPATIDE (DUAL GIP/GLP-1)

SEMAGLUTIDE (GLP-1 ONLY)

Manufacturer

ELI LILLY

NOVO NORDISK

FDA-approved for

TYPE 2 DIABETES

TYPE 2 DIABETES · CV RISK REDUCTION · KIDNEY DISEASE

Injection frequency

ONCE WEEKLY

Missed-dose window

WITHIN 4 DAYS

WITHIN 5 DAYS

Dose range

2.5 – 15 MG

0.25 – 2 MG

List price (no insurance)

~$1,080–$1,300 / MO

~$970–$1,030 / MO

Per official prescribing information and current list pricing · not medical advice — confirm with your prescriber and pharmacy

SEC. 02

What the trial found

Outcome (40 weeks)

Result

Ozempic (semaglutide 1mg) — A1C reduction

1.86%

Mounjaro 15mg — A1C reduction

2.30%

Ozempic (semaglutide 1mg) — body weight change

−6.7% (≈6.2 kg)

Mounjaro 15mg — body weight change

−13.1% (12.4 kg)

SURPASS-2 randomized 1,879 adults with type 2 diabetes to tirzepatide (5, 10, or 15mg) or semaglutide 1mg, on top of metformin. All three tirzepatide doses beat semaglutide 1mg on both measures. The trial predates Ozempic's now-approved 2mg maintenance dose, which hasn't been tested in this exact head-to-head design.

SEC. 03

One app, either drug

F—01

Switch without resetting

If your prescriber moves you from Ozempic to Mounjaro or back, your shot history and reminders carry on.

F—02

Right rules, either way

Different missed-dose windows, different titration steps — the app applies the correct ones automatically for whichever drug you're on.

F—03

No guessing

Every reminder is checked against the manufacturer's official labeling for that specific drug — not a generic rule of thumb.

SEC. 04

Q & A

Which has worse side effects, Mounjaro or Ozempic?Q—01 +

Both share the same GI side effect profile — nausea, diarrhea, constipation, decreased appetite — since both slow stomach emptying. Neither has a clearly worse profile in trials; individual tolerance varies.

Is it worth switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro?Q—02 +

In the SURPASS-2 head-to-head trial, tirzepatide outperformed semaglutide 1mg on both A1C and weight loss. But that trial didn't include Ozempic's newer 2mg dose, and individual response varies — this is a conversation for your prescriber, not a rule that applies to everyone.

Can I switch between Ozempic and Mounjaro directly?Q—03 +

Yes, under a prescriber's supervision. There's no single switching protocol for everyone — your prescriber factors in why you're switching, how long you've been on your current dose, and your last dose date.

Why did tirzepatide outperform semaglutide in the trial?Q—04 +

Tirzepatide activates two gut hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1, while semaglutide activates GLP-1 alone. The added GIP activity is believed to contribute to the larger A1C and weight reductions seen in head-to-head data.

When does it launch?Q—05 +

Live now on the App Store for iPhone — download and start your free trial today. Android is coming soon.