GLP-1 vs mounjaro
You are deciding between two options.
Reference and calculator, not medical advice. Dosing figures below are transcribed from FDA-approved prescribing information and link back to it. Last reviewed August 2026.
Mounjaro is a GLP-1 medication — specifically, tirzepatide branded for type 2 diabetes. The distinction people are usually reaching for is not Mounjaro against GLP-1s but Mounjaro against Zepbound, which is the same molecule labelled for weight management.
Side-by-side
Structural facts from each product’s prescribing information.
| Product | Active ingredient | Indication | Frequency | Start | Max labelled | Steps to max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mounjaro Eli Lilly | Tirzepatide | Type 2 diabetes | Weekly | 2.5 mg | 15 mg | 6 |
| Zepbound Eli Lilly | Tirzepatide | Weight management | Weekly | 2.5 mg | 15 mg | 6 |
| Ozempic Novo Nordisk | Semaglutide | Type 2 diabetes | Weekly | 0.25 mg | 2 mg | 4 |
Indication is the difference that has practical consequences. It determines what a prescriber is writing it for, and it is a large part of what determines whether insurance covers it — coverage for type 2 diabetes is considerably more common than for weight management.
Mounjaro titration schedule
Tirzepatide · once weekly · subcutaneous injection · as published in the prescribing information
| Step | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–4 | 2.5 mg | Starting dose |
| Weeks 5–8 | 5 mg | — |
| Weeks 9–12 | 7.5 mg | — |
| Weeks 13–16 | 10 mg | — |
| Weeks 17–20 | 12.5 mg | — |
| Week 21+ | 15 mg | Maximum dose |
This is the labelled default. Holding at a step longer than shown is common practice and is a decision for your prescriber. Transcribed from the Mounjaro prescribing information (label revised 6 May 2026); checked against that label on 7 August 2026.
Common questions
- Is Mounjaro a GLP-1 or a GIP drug?
- Both. The label describes tirzepatide as a GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist.
- Can Mounjaro be prescribed for weight loss?
- Its labelled indication is type 2 diabetes; Zepbound is the tirzepatide product labelled for weight management. Prescribing outside a label is a clinician decision this site does not advise on.
- Do the two share a dosing schedule?
- Both run 2.5 mg to 15 mg in 2.5 mg steps. The schedules are shown above.
Sources and last review
Every dosing figure on this page is transcribed from an FDA-approved label and links back to it. Conversions are arithmetic you can repeat by hand. Nothing here is reviewed by a clinician, and this site does not employ one — which is exactly why what I do publish stays traceable to its source.
- Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) prescribing information — Eli Lilly, label revised 6 May 2026, checked 7 August 2026
- Zepbound (Tirzepatide) prescribing information — Eli Lilly, label revised 6 May 2026, checked 7 August 2026
- Ozempic (Semaglutide) prescribing information — Novo Nordisk, label revised 10 June 2026, checked 7 August 2026
Transcribed from the labels above and checked by me — Gavin, who builds this site, takes a GLP-1, and is not a clinician. Last reviewed August 2026. Found an error? [email protected] — I treat corrections as bugs. How this site is built and funded.