Mounjaro Price Increases: What You Need to Know

Should you decide to continue with Mounjaro, your treatment will now cost more, due to the price increase. Some private providers, though, offer discounts if you order packs or multiple pens at once, which can help reduce the cost.

In the long run, staying on Mounjaro may actually be more cost-effective. Switching to another treatment or taking a break can potentially slow your progress, as you may not get the same level of effectiveness. So it might take longer to reach your target weight.

If you’re buying Mounjaro privately, it’s worth contacting your provider. They can help you weigh the cost against the benefits and figure out the best approach forward.

But if the rising cost of Mounjaro is a concern, some people consider switching to Wegovy. Wegovy is, like Mounjaro, a weekly injection. And it works in a similar way in your body to help you lose weight, by decreasing your appetite so that you eat less.

Pros:

• Works in much the same way as Mounjaro, so the transition can be straightforward (no need for long breaks to let your body adjust to a new treatment).
• Wegovy is already established as a safe treatment for most people and is widely used.
• A new higher dose (7.2mg) has been trialled and may be available in the future, potentially offering results comparable to, or even better than, the highest dose of Mounjaro.

Cons:

• It may not be quite as effective as Mounjaro for everyone, depending on your current dose and how your body responds.
• As with any medication, you might experience some side effects. But since Wegovy works similarly to Mounjaro, the side effects are usually pretty similar too.
• Switching could temporarily slow your weight loss as your body adjusts to the new treatment.

These pros and cons will vary person to person. And at the end of the day, whether Wegovy is a good option for you depends on your target weight, previous progress, and how you respond to treatment.

So it’s best to discuss the switch with your clinician to help you figure out if this is the right decision for you.

Which Wegovy dose to switch to

At the moment, there aren’t any standardised recommendations on which dose to switch to if you’re changing from Mounjaro to Wegovy.

But the clinical team at Treated have created switching guidance based on the research that’s currently available. Their recommendations are as follows.

If your most recent dose of Mounjaro was within the last two weeks, and the last Mounjaro dose you used was:

• 2.5mg, change to the 0.25mg dose of Wegovy
• 5mg, change to the 0.5mg dose of Wegovy
• 7.5mg or 10mg, change to the 1mg dose of Wegovy
• 12.5mg or 15mg, change to the 1.7mg dose of Wegovy

After four weeks of using Wegovy, you then have the option to progress through doses based on your response to the treatment.

If your most recent dose of Mounjaro was more than two weeks ago, but less than four weeks ago, and the last Mounjaro dose you used was:

• 2.5mg or 5mg, change to the 0.25mg dose of Wegovy
• 7.5mg or 10mg, change to the 0.5mg dose of Wegovy
• 12.5mg or 15mg, change to the 1mg dose of Wegovy

Again, you’ve got the option to cycle up through Wegovy doses after four weeks, based on your individual response.

If it’s been more than four weeks since your last Mounjaro dose, it’s recommended to start again at the lowest dose of Wegovy (0.25mg).

In any event, you should always consult with your clinician before changing from Mounjaro to Wegovy (or vice versa). There may be considerations specific to your use of these medications and your response to them that may change their recommendation.

Read more in our guide about switching between weight loss treatments, which explains in more detail what your options are.

Another option for you is to switch to liraglutide, sold as Saxenda (branded original) or Nevolat (branded generic). Saxenda has had intermittent supply issues in the UK, but Nevolat (the generic) is available and may be easier to access.

Saxenda and Nevolat work in the same way, as they contain the same active ingredient (liraglutide). Liraglutide is another GLP-1 agonist, same as Wegovy and Mounajro, but is injected daily, as opposed to weekly.

Pros:

• Daily routine suits some people: You might find that a set daily habit can feel more steady and predictable for you.
• Established safety profile: Liraglutide has been around longer than Mounjaro, so its side effects are well studied.
• Daily adjustments possible: Because it’s a daily injection, you may feel more in control and adjust your treatment more easily if you get side effects.
• Cost: Nevolat (generic Saxenda) is typically more affordable than Mounjaro after the price increases.

Cons:

• Daily injections: Require more consistency and can be harder to stick with long-term.
• Effectiveness: Clinical trials show 6–7% weight loss on average with liraglutide vs 15–21% on average with tirzepatide.
• Cost versus outcome: Even if per-pen prices are lower, overall value depends on your results; needing longer treatment to reach the same goals can offset the price.

You can also consider getting Mounjaro through the NHS. But eligibility is usually limited to people with:

• a BMI of 40 or more (adjusted for ethnicity)
• and with multiple specific weight-related conditions like abnormal fat levels in your blood, high blood pressure, if your breathing stops and starts while you sleep (obstructive sleep apnoea), or if you have type 2 diabetes.

The process typically involves a referral from your GP, an assessment by a specialist, and ongoing monitoring while you’re on treatment. And depending on your location, it might also involve lengthy waiting lists.

And you might need to consider that if you’re already buying Mounjaro privately, you might not meet these criteria. But it’s still worth checking with your local integrated care board if you’re curious about your NHS options.

If you’ve reached your target weight (congratulations on your hard work), you’re on a maintenance dose, and are thinking about stopping Mounjaro, it’s important to taper off gradually rather than stopping treatment abruptly. Your clinician can guide you on how to reduce your dose safely.

And even after stopping, keeping up the healthy habits you’ve developed, like:

• eating a balanced diet,
• engaging in regular physical activity,
• and practising mindful lifestyle choices, like following a healthy sleep routine, reducing alcohol intake, and managing stress levels

can help prevent your weight from creeping back up.

For more info on this, see our page on how to come off weight loss injections.