The essential difference between tirzepatide (sold under the brand name Mounjaro) and semaglutide (sold commonly as Ozempic) is that tirzepatide has two distinct mechanisms of action — as a GLP-1 agonist and as a GIP agonist — whereas semaglutide functions only as a GLP-1 agonist.

One way to conceptualize this distinction is that, with our specially compounded tirzepatide, you get a two-in-one weight loss therapy (GLP-1 + GIP) as opposed to the single mechanism of action of semaglutide (GLP-1).

Some weight loss patients, in close consultation with their healthcare providers, may choose to synergistically combine tirzepatide and semaglutide, thereby enhancing the respective benefits offered by each, such as:

• Increased insulin sensitivity (for faster calorie burning and greater energy levels)
• Reduced unhealthy food cravings
• Better blood sugar management
• Faster, more sustainable weight loss

There is the potential for certain side effects associated with concurrent use of semaglutide and tirzepatide, so whether to combine them is a decision best made on a case-by-case basis under the guidance of a credentialed healthcare provider with an expertise in weight management.

Another common question that weight loss patients often ask pertains to specially compounded tirzepatide vs Mounjaro: what’s the difference and why does it matter?

This can get confusing, but here are the basics:

• The only meaningful distinction for patients to understand between tirzepatide and Mounjaro is the branding: Mounjaro is the branded form of tirzepatide sold as a diabetes drug in the United States by pharmaceutical corporation Eli Lily.
• Further complicating matters, Eli Lily recently introduced a newly branded form of tirzepatide called Zepbound, which is the same drug as Mounjaro, only marketed explicitly for weight loss rather than diabetes.

Via UC Health:

“A newly approved weight loss drug called Zepbound may work even better than the popular drug Wegovy while also driving down the cost of multiple weight loss drugs.

The newest crop of weight loss drugs — including Zepbound — have sticker prices of more than $1,000 per month, and most insurance companies do not cover them. Doctors and patients, alike, are eager see if Zepbound will foster greater competition and price cuts among drug makers, thus improving access to pricey medications.

Medical experts at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave a much-anticipated green light to Zepbound on Nov. 8.

The FDA previously approved a related drug called Mounjaro, which is made from the same active ingredient in Zepbound: tirzepatide. But Mounjaro was only available to people with Type 2 diabetes.”

For all intents and purposes, including weight loss, tirzepatide and Mounjaro are functionally the same drug.

There is no clinical rationale for reaching for Mounjaro for weight loss over our specially compounded tirzepatide for weight loss; they both do the exact same thing in the body and produce the same results. Mounjaro is tirzepatide — only with a massive marketing machine behind it and the extra cost passed on to the patient.

The difference, of course, that matters most to patients is cost. Our specially compounded tirzepatide is significantly more affordable than Mounjaro, which we’ll dive into more in an upcoming section. 

So, if you want to lose weight and save thousands of dollars in the process, ditch the brand-name Mounjaro and give our compounded tirzepatide a shot.

Most of the common potential side effects associated with tirzepatide therapy affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These include:

• Stomach pain
• Heartburn
• “Fullness” in the stomach
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Difficulty swallowing

If you experience these or other adverse effects following tirzepatide use, contact your doctor for a consultation. In cases of emergency, call 911.

It should be noted that these side effects are typically not severe and easily managed by dose adjustments and other mitigation strategies. The clinical literature is clear on this point. For instance, let’s return to the New England Journal of Medicine study we cited earlier regarding tirzepatide’s weight loss benefits:

“The most common adverse events with tirzepatide were gastrointestinal, and most were mild to moderate in severity, occurring primarily during dose escalation.”

Tirzepatide also potentially interacts with certain commonly prescribed medications, so you should discuss any such drugs you are taking with your doctor before beginning therapy, such as:

• Estradiol (estrogen used in hormone replacement therapy)
• Warfarin
• Desogestrel
• Levonorgestrel
• Norgestrel
• Insulin
• Metformin

Before we get into pricing, let’s explore how our specially compounded tirzepatide is packaged, which can sometimes be confusing for first-time patients.

The specially compounded tirzepatide we offer comes in a 2ml sterile solution vial, with 10 mg of tirzepatide per 0.5 mL for a total of 40 mg of tirzepatide in each vial.

Our price per 40 mg vial of tirzepatide is $700.

Bear in mind that our 40 mg vial of tirzepatide can potentially last, depending on dosing schedule, for up to 16 weeks, so it’s a four-month supply for many patients (see “Tirzepatide Dosing” for more dosing guidelines).

Compare the cost of around $150/month for our specially compounded tirzepatide at the lowest dosing schedule to nearly $1,500 that many weight loss patients without health insurance spend monthly on brand-name Mounjaro — the exact same drug.

Via Healthline:

“The manufacturer lists the price of Mounjaro pens as $1,069.08 for all strengths from 2.5–15 milligrams (mg). The monthly cost of Mounjaro when paying out-of-pocket is $900–$1,400, depending on the source and prescribed dose.”

So, it’s:

• $150/month for specially compounded tirzepatide at the lowest dose schedule, vs.
• $1,400/month for Mounjaro without insurance.

Clearly, at nearly ten times the cost for Mounjaro in some cases, there is no real comparison in terms of cost.

Why pay more for expensive, brand-name drugs when you can get the same medication for potentially 1/10 of the cost? This is the essential question our patients ask themselves, and it’s the reason they turn to us as their source for specially compounded tirzepatide.

When self-administering tirzepatide for weight loss, injections are applied once per week subcutaneously (meaning “under the skin) in the belly fat region.

Our specially compounded tirzepatide kits come with full, easy-to-follow instructions for preparing and administering the shots.

As a general rule, weight loss patients escalate their once-weekly tirzepatide dose once every three weeks as necessary to produce results.

Below is a boilerplate example of a tirzepatide dosing schedule:

Keep in mind that the above is merely an example of a typical tirzepatide dosing schedule. Each patient is unique, and so tirzepatide schedule will depend on individual factors such as weight loss goals, current weight, any side effects that emerge, and what results the weight loss therapy is delivering over time.

For patient safety, tirzepatide dosing should only increase as needed to achieve weight loss goals, in cases in which the drug is no longer working as intended. Before making any dosing changes, patients should consult with an experienced healthcare provider.

For patients requiring weekly tirzepatide injections in excess of 10 mg, this form of therapy may not be cost-effective or sustainable. In such cases, compounded semaglutide therapy may be an effective, suitable alternative.