.svg)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.svg){kind=icon}
Mounjaro® is a prescription medication FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
It belongs to a class of medications that work with the body's natural hormone signals, and among these, it’s the first and only medication to activate both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors.
Because of how it works in the body, Mounjaro® can also support meaningful weight reduction, making it a valuable part of a comprehensive care plan for people managing both type 2 diabetes and their weight.
Mounjaro® is taken as a once-weekly injection. Your care team will help determine whether it's the right fit based on your health history, goals, and treatment needs.
.webp)
Mounjaro® is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. This means it activates two naturally occurring hormone pathways at once.
GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) are hormones released after eating that help regulate blood sugar, appetite, and digestion.
By activating both receptors, Mounjaro® works to increase insulin secretion when blood sugar is elevated, reduce glucagon (a hormone that raises blood sugar), slow the rate at which food leaves the stomach, and reduce hunger signals in the brain.
By working with these natural hormone signals, the medication helps reduce appetite and increase feelings of fullness, making it easier to eat in alignment with your health goals.
Over time, people using Mounjaro® as part of a broader care plan often see meaningful, sustained reductions in body weight.
Mounjaro® can be covered by insurance, but it depends on your plan and diagnosis.
Insurance coverage for Mounjaro® is most common when it’s prescribed for type 2 diabetes, as this is the FDA-approved indication for the medication.
Many commercial plans include Mounjaro® on their formulary for this use, though coverage varies by plan, employer, and pharmacy benefit structure.
Prior authorization is commonly required. Plans may ask for documentation of a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, recent lab results, and any previous medications tried. Some plans also require step therapy, meaning you might need to try other diabetes medications first.
knownwell helps patients navigate this process. Our dedicated authorization team can assist with prior benefit verification and next steps, so you understand your coverage options before moving forward.
.svg)
.svg%201%20%5BVectorized%5D%20(1).svg)
With insurance, Mounjaro® can cost as little as $0.89 per day ($25 per month) for eligible commercially insured patients using the Lilly Savings Card. Actual costs vary based on your plan, benefits, pharmacy, and prescribed dose.
knownwell's care team helps review your coverage and navigate any required approvals, so you understand your options before starting treatment.
If you're paying without insurance, Lilly has announced that self-paying patients will be able to access Mounjaro® through LillyDirect's self-pay pharmacy channel, with the lowest dose starting at $149 per month and additional doses costing up to $399 per month.
The company also says that eligible patients enrolled in Medicare Part D may be able to access Mounjaro® for $50 per month, beginning as soon as July 1, 2026.
Your knownwell care team will review costs with you as part of your plan.
.png)
For eligible commercially insured patients with Mounjaro® coverage, using the Lilly Savings Card. Governmental beneficiaries excluded.
Prescribed as part of a personalized medication plan with ongoing support from your knownwell care team.
Clinical studies show that Mounjaro® can support substantial, sustained improvements in both blood sugar control and body weight for many people with type 2 diabetes, when used consistently as part of a broader care plan.
In a clinical trial comparing Mounjaro® to semaglutide 1 mg (the dose used for type 2 diabetes), all three doses of Mounjaro® produced greater reductions in both blood sugar and body weight at 40 weeks. Participants lost an average of 16.8 lbs on the 5 mg dose, 20.5 lbs on the 10 mg dose, and 24.7 lbs on the 15 mg dose, compared to 12.6 lbs on semaglutide 1 mg.
%202.svg)
Mounjaro® has been shown to significantly improve HbA1c levels (a key marker of long-term blood sugar control), with reductions of up to 2.3% across approved doses, compared to 1.86% with semaglutide 1 mg.
Changes in appetite and fullness are often noticed within the first few weeks, with more significant weight and blood sugar changes becoming apparent over the following months.
.svg){kind=spacer}
.png)
%202.png)
Common Mounjaro® side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, decreased appetite, and stomach discomfort, especially when starting or increasing the dose. These things typically improve as your body adjusts.
Mounjaro® isn't appropriate for everyone. Certain medical conditions, a personal or family history of specific thyroid cancers, pancreas or kidney conditions, and certain endocrine disorders can affect eligibility.
Your knownwell care team will review your health history to determine if Mounjaro® is a safe option for you.
Mounjaro® is a once-daily oral pill. Unlike some other oral GLP-1 medications, you can take it at any time of day, with or without food, and without limits on your water intake.
Mounjaro® should be stored at room temperature. The medication is light-sensitive, so it’s a good idea to store the bottle in its carton or a cabinet to protect it from light.
Your knownwell care team will explain the proper storage and handling instructions for your prescription.
Mounjaro® is started at a low dose (0.8 mg once daily). The dose is increased gradually over time, typically every 4 weeks, to help the body adjust. The recommended maintenance doses are 2.5 mg, 5.5 mg, 9 mg, and 14.5 mg, with 17.2 mg being the maximum.
Your knownwell care team will review your specific dosing plan and make adjustments based on how your body responds.
%20(1).png)
.png)
.png)
Meet with a knownwell provider to review your options, discuss whether Mounjaro® fits your needs, and get guidance on next steps.
knownwell knows that long-term weight management support is critical. That's why our patients meet with the same clinician throughout their entire time at knownwell.
A closer look at dual incretin biology, peptide engineering, and metabolic effects
Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro®, is unlike any GLP-1 medication that came before it. It’s a dual incretin receptor agonist, engineered to simultaneously activate both the GIP receptor and the GLP-1 receptor, the two primary hormonal pathways involved in regulating appetite, insulin secretion, and blood sugar.
Natural GIP and GLP-1 are incretin hormones released from the gut after eating. While GLP-1 medications (like semaglutide) target only the GLP-1 pathway, tirzepatide was engineered from the native GIP sequence to bind both receptors, allowing it to work through two complementary mechanisms rather than one.
Tirzepatide is modified to:
This dual-receptor design is what distinguishes Mounjaro® from single-pathway GLP-1 medications and has been associated with greater weight reductions in clinical trials.
GLP-1 receptors are expressed in brain regions involved in appetite and energy regulation, including the hypothalamus and brainstem. GIP receptors are also found in areas of the brain associated with satiety and reward signaling.
When tirzepatide activates both receptor types, it:
This is not appetite suppression through stimulants or willpower. It’s modulation of the body's own physiologic hunger signals - working with the brain's natural regulation systems to help eating feel more naturally controlled.
Tirzepatide's actions on blood sugar are glucose-dependent, meaning it:
Additional systemic effects include:
Talk with your provider if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or breastfeed, or have a history of:
Talk with your provider if you’re pregnant, or if you plan to become pregnant or breastfeed, or if you have a history of:
.webp)
.png)
.webp)
Get started with weight management care at knownwell.
