The Best Mounjaro® Alternatives for Weight Management

Mounjaro® is likely the most talked-about weight management medication right now, so much so, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s the only effective solution. But that just isn’t true. For people whose budget makes Mounjaro® out of the question, there are other effective solutions.

In this article, we’ll take a quick look at Mounjaro®, and why it's so popular as a weight loss aid. Then we’ll look at other types of medications that could be useful alternatives. And finally, we’ll discuss Compounded Tirzepatide, Semaglutide, and Liraglutide, and why these might just be the best alternatives to Mounjaro® currently available.

How Does Mounjaro® Work?

The active ingredient in Mounjaro® is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor co-agonist called Tirzepatide. Tirzepatide works by mimicking the functions of two natural hormones in the body — gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP-1).¹

These hormones help regulate blood sugar by stimulating the body to release insulin after eating.² They also help control appetite, leading to Mounjaro®’s effectiveness, not only in controlling blood sugar, but also in weight management.

Dosage and Side Effects

Mounjaro® is administered as a once-weekly injection with a starting dose of 2.5mg, increased gradually to a maximum dose of 15mg.³

Mounjaro® can cause gastrointestinal side effects such as:³

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Stomach upset

• Abdominal pain

Who Can Use Mounjaro®?

Currently, Mounjaro® only has FDA approval for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. However, there have been several clinical studies showing that Mounjaro® is a highly effective weight loss drug.¹ ⁴

As well as this, news of the positive results of further trials has recently been released. This has led to its popular use as an off-label treatment for weight management for people who don’t have Type 2 Diabetes. Notably, Eli Lilly, which manufactures Mounjaro®, has recently obtained FDA approval for Zepbound, its new Tirzepatide weight loss treatment.⁵

Mounjaro® Cost

Unfortunately, the cost of Mounjaro® can be prohibitively expensive for some, especially when insurance plans don't cover costs.⁶ This has led to many people looking for cheaper alternative solutions for weight management.

Mounjaro® Alternative: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists 

GLP-1 receptor agonists are a class of prescription drugs mainly used to manage Type 2 Diabetes, but there’s a strong and growing body of evidence to show their effectiveness as a treatment for weight loss.⁷ As a result, these diabetes medications are increasingly being prescribed for weight management. 

GLP-1 receptor agonists emulate GLP-1.⁸ This is a hormone produced in the intestine in response to food intake. Natural GLP-1 quickly breaks down in the body, but GLP-1 receptor agonists are designed to last longer, with longer-lasting effects.

GLP-1 receptor agonists work by:⁸

• Stimulating insulin secretion

• Blocking glucagon production

• Slowing stomach emptying

• Suppressing appetite 

Two of these drugs, Semaglutide and Liraglutide, are FDA-approved for this purpose.⁹ ¹⁰ Semaglutide and Liraglutide are similar to Tirzepatide in the way they work, which is by mimicking natural hormones in the body. 

GLP-1 receptor agonists are usually administered as an injection either daily, twice daily, or weekly, depending on the specific drug.⁸

Several GLP-1 receptor agonists have been approved for Type 2 Diabetes and two have been approved for weight management.¹¹ Examples of GLP-1 receptor agonists include:

• Semaglutide (Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Rybelsus)

• Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)

• Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon)

• Dulaglutide (Trulicity)

GLP-1 receptor agonists, and Tirzepatide together with a healthy lifestyle, are a highly effective treatment for Type 2 Diabetes and weight management. However, they’re not suitable for everyone, and shouldn’t be prescribed for people with certain health issues, such as a history of thyroid cancer or pancreatitis.

Wegovy®: FDA-Approved for Weight Loss 

Wegovy® is a once-weekly Semaglutide injection. It is approved for weight loss in people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or 27 or above if they have Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.¹² Unlike Mounjaro®, it’s also approved for the treatment of children over the age of 12. 

Clinical trials have shown Wegovy® to be highly effective in weight control, producing a substantial, sustained weight loss, averaging 15.2% over two years.¹³

Saxenda: FDA-Approved for Weight Loss 

Saxenda contains the active ingredient Liraglutide. It’s administered once a day as an injection under the skin. Saxenda is approved for use in people with a BMI of 30 or over, or for people with weight-related health conditions and a BMI of 27 or over.¹⁰ It’s also approved for children aged 12 to 17 who weigh 132 lbs (60kg) or above.

Recently, a small study confirmed the results of early randomized-controlled studies (RCTs), that along with a healthy lifestyle, Liraglutide is well-tolerated, and is effective in reducing body weight.¹⁴

Ozempic®: Approved for People With Type 2 Diabetes

Like Wegovy®, the active ingredient in Ozempic® is Semaglutide, but at lower doses. Ozempic® is administered once a week as a small injection under the skin for blood sugar control in people with Type 2 Diabetes.¹⁵ It’s also been shown to reduce heart attacks and strokes in people who have Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.⁸

Victoza: Approved for People With Type 2 Diabetes

Victoza has the same active ingredient as Saxenda, but at a lower dose.¹⁶ It’s only approved for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and is administered as a once-daily injection.

Byetta or Bydureon BCise: Approved for People With Type 2 Diabetes

Byetta¹⁷ and Bydureon BCise¹⁸ both have the active ingredient exenatide. They are both approved for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes, but not for weight loss. Byetta® is an injectable medication administered twice a day, and Bydureon BCise is more slowly released and is administered as a once-weekly injection.

Trulicity: Approved for People With Type 2 Diabetes

The active ingredient in Trulicity is another GLP-1 receptor agonist called dulaglutide. It’s approved for the treatment of patients with Type 2 Diabetes and is administered as a once-weekly injection.¹⁹

Rybelsus: Approved for People With Type 2 Diabetes

Like Wegovy® and Ozempic®, Rybelsus contains the active ingredient Semaglutide. However, unlike all the GLP-1 medications discussed above, Rybelsus is taken orally as a tablet. 

Presently, Rybelsus is only approved for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.²⁰ However, research on people who didn’t have Type 2 Diabetes, showed oral Semaglutide at higher doses (50mg a day) led to a significant decrease in body weight compared to the effects of placebo.²¹ NovoNordisk, the manufacturer of Rybelsus, may therefore seek FDA approval for the high-dose pill for weight loss at some time in the future.

Mounjaro® Alternative: Other FDA-Approved Medications

The medications featured in this section are approved for people with a BMI of 30 or over, or a BMI of 27 or higher with weight-related health problems such as high blood pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, or high cholesterol.²²

• Xenical and Alli: Xenical²³ contains the active ingredient orlistat, which works by blocking the absorption of fat from your intestine. Alli® contains lower doses of orlistat and is the only FDA-approved medication for weight loss that’s available over the counter.²⁴

• Qsymia: Qsymia contains the active ingredients phentermine and topiramate.²⁵ This combination of medications aids in weight loss by suppressing appetite and reducing cravings.

• Contrave: Contrave contains the active ingredients naltrexone and bupropion.²⁶ In combination, these two medications can decrease hunger and reduce cravings, leading to better weight management.

To be effective, all of these medications will need to be used together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Some may not be suitable for you if you have certain conditions or are taking other medications, so always check with a medical professional first.

These older weight management medications may be helpful for some people. However, newer medications such as Tirzepatide, Semaglutide, and Liraglutide show a greater reduction in body weight in clinical trials.²⁷

Mounjaro® Alternative: Natural Alternatives for Weight Loss 

Some people find over-the-counter (OTC) natural supplements helpful in weight management. But there are important differences between FDA-approved prescription weight loss medications and those you can buy over the counter.

FDA-approved prescription medications have been rigorously tested for their safety and efficacy. On the other hand, OTC dietary supplements don’t go through rigorous testing to the same degree, so their weight loss benefits aren't as solidly proven.²⁸

Claims for the efficacy of OTC dietary supplements often rely on studies on the contained ingredients rather than the final product. These studies can vary in quality. In fact, the evidence for some OTC treatments is purely anecdotal.²⁹

Both FDA-approved medications and OTC supplements can have side effects, but the side effects of FDA-approved medications are usually well-studied and documented. OTC treatments may have side effects that haven’t been studied or documented, and so aren’t brought to people’s attention. There could also be concerns about purity or contamination in less reputable products.²⁸

PhenQ³⁰ and Zotrim³¹ are two of the most popular OTC supplements with natural ingredients that are claimed to help with weight loss.

PhenQ

Claims:

• Helps burn fat

• Reduces fat accumulation

• Reduces food cravings

• Boosts energy

Side-effects:

• None listed

Ingredients:

• α-Lacys Reset® (Alpha Lipoic Acid and Cysteine.), Capsimax Powder, Chromium Picolinate, Caffeine, Nopal Cactus, L-Carnitine Fumarate, Innoslim, B-Vitamins, and Iodine

Zotrim

Claims:

• Suppresses appetite

• Makes you feel fuller

Side-effects:

• None listed

Ingredients:

• Yerba Mate Leaf Extract, Guarana Seed Extract, Damiana Leaf Extract, Caffeine, Vitamin B3, and Vitamin B6

Mounjaro® Alternative: Compounded GLP-1 Medications for Weight Management 

Compounded medications are custom-made medications made in specialist pharmacies. Although compounded medications aren’t FDA-approved as the FDA only reviews mass market drugs, they do contain active ingredients such as Tirzepatide, Semaglutide, and Liraglutide. Compounded drugs are perfectly legal, but can only be manufactured when certain conditions are met.³²

They’re made by specially-trained pharmacists in facilities licensed by the FDA and the state Boards of Pharmacy, and are bound by strict regulations and quality control standards. This ensures that all the medications they produce are of consistently high quality.

There should also be a specific reason that prevents a patient from using an FDA-approved medication. This might be when:³²

• There’s a shortage of a particular drug 

• The patient is allergic to some component of an FDA-approved drug, 

• The patient needs a specific dose not generally available in the FDA-approved form 

• A drug becomes unavailable due to manufacturing issues, recalls, or other reasons

So compounding pharmacies provide a valuable back-up service. They help to ensure that everyone has access to the medications they need, even when they have specific requirements, or when the FDA-approved medications aren’t available.

To find out more about compounded medications, read through our article on Compounded Semaglutide.

The compounded weight management medications offered by Henry Meds, such as Compounded Tirzepatide, Compounded Semaglutide, and Compounded Liraglutide, meet all the stringent conditions laid out above required of compounding pharmacies.

The Best Mounjaro® Alternatives From Henry Meds 

If you’re looking for an alternative to Mounjaro®, providers on the Henry Meds platform can recommend the best option to help you in your weight loss journey. Our providers supply medications such as Tirzepatide, Semaglutide, and Liraglutide made in FDA-registered or state-licensed pharmacies. You don’t need any insurance coverage and all treatment programs are one monthly price.

We never charge a separate intake fee, and follow-up appointments can be scheduled as needed. Any supplies you need are included, along with the cost of shipping. 

So to access the care you deserve at an affordable price, schedule an appointment with us today

To help you trust the information we provide, every article written by Henry relies on peer-reviewed studies and medically-reviewed facts. We ensure that data, ideas, and figures cited are reliable, current, and accurate. Our team of medical reviewers aim to help you cut through the noise with clear and authoritative primary and secondary sources.

Nothing in this article is intended to be prescriptive or medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting a new diet and exercise plan. Information presented is about our medically supervised weight management programs and is not an advertisement for a specific drug.

Please note: Henry Meds does not offer Ozempic® or Wegovy®, which are only available from the Novo Nordisk company. Compounded Semaglutide is a patient-specific medication created in a state Board of Pharmacy or FDA licensed compounding facility per a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional. Compounded drugs are required to exclusively use ingredients from FDA-licensed facilities, and test sterile compounds for potency, sterility, and purity. While compounded drugs are legal they do not undergo pre-market approval from the FDA as they are not made in large batches for the public, compounds are made based on specific orders from a medical professional. Because of that the dose, route of administration, safety, and efficacy may differ from commercially available, brand-name, drugs. Henry Meds exclusively works with licensed sterile compounding pharmacies in the United States. 

Please note: Henry Meds does not offer Mounjaro® or Zepbound®, which are only available from the Eli Lilly company. Compounded Tirzepatide is a patient-specific medication created in a state Board of Pharmacy or FDA-licensed compounding facility per a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional. Compounded drugs are required to exclusively use ingredients from FDA-licensed facilities, and test sterile compounds for potency, sterility, and purity. While compounded drugs are legal they do not undergo pre-market approval from the FDA as they are not made in large batches for the public, compounds are made based on specific orders from a medical professional. Because of that the dose, route of administration, safety, and efficacy may differ from commercially available, brand-name, drugs. Henry Meds exclusively works with licensed sterile compounding pharmacies in the United States.