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3-way comparison
Side-by-side breakdown — efficacy, cost, regulatory status, and who each option fits best.
| Attribute | Mounjaro | Zepbound | Compounded Tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generic name | tirzepatide | tirzepatide | tirzepatide (compounded) |
| Drug class | — | — | — |
| Regulatory status | FDA approved | FDA approved | Compounded |
| Manufacturer | Eli Lilly | Eli Lilly | Various compounding pharmacies |
| Avg retail price | $1135/mo | $1086/mo | $299/mo |
| Without insurance | $1023–$1330/mo | $349–$1086/mo | $149–$399/mo |
| Savings card max | $25/mo | $25/mo | $0/mo |
| Shortage status |
| resolved |
| resolved |
| not_listed |
Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Zepbound (tirzepatide), and Compounded Tirzepatide (tirzepatide (compounded)) are GLP-1 medications used for weight management or type 2 diabetes. Key differences: Mounjaro is FDA-approved, Zepbound is FDA-approved, Compounded Tirzepatide is compounded.
Effectiveness varies by individual. In clinical trials, tirzepatide-based drugs (Mounjaro, Zepbound) produced ~22% average body-weight loss vs ~15% for semaglutide-based (Ozempic, Wegovy). Discuss with your prescriber.
Cash retail price: Compounded Tirzepatide $299/mo · Zepbound $1086/mo · Mounjaro $1135/mo. Compounded versions through telehealth typically run 60-80% less.
See per-drug deep dives: Mounjaro review · Zepbound review · Compounded Tirzepatide review
Drill down into any pair from the three above for deeper side-by-side analysis.
Dose conversion + transition timeline for each directional switch.