Compounded tirzepatide vs Mounjaro
Mounjaro is FDA-approved tirzepatide made by Eli Lilly; compounded tirzepatide is made by compounding pharmacies and is not FDA-approved. At the starting dose, the lowest self-pay price is ≈ $535 per 30 days for Mounjaro, $499/28 days at LillyDirect (Eli Lilly). The lowest compounded tirzepatide price that states its supply is ≈ $129 per 30 days: $120.14/28 days at Affinity Direct, on a 3-month plan paid upfront.
Mounjaro
FDA-approved · Eli Lilly
Lowest self-pay, starting dose
from $499/28 days≈ $534.64 per 30 days at this quoted rate
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Mounjaro single-dose pens
LillyDirect (Eli Lilly) · Manufacturer direct
self-pay, four weekly pens; published starting rate at each dose
Price conditions
self-pay, four weekly pens; published starting rate at each dose
The self-pay program requires a prescription for an approved use, age 18+, and US or Puerto Rico residence. Purchases cannot be submitted to insurance or counted toward deductibles or out-of-pocket limits. Four once-weekly pens cover 28 days.
28-day supply
Compounded tirzepatide
Not FDA-approved · 33 sellers
Lowest with a stated supply
$120.14/28 days28-day supply · 3-month upfront payment required
≈ $128.72 per 30 days at this quoted rate
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Compounded tirzepatide via Affinity Direct
Affinity Direct · Sourced provider quote
3-month supply at 2.5 mg weekly on auto-refill, billed $360.40 every 12 weeks; a single 4-week supply bought one time is $174 to $269 by dose; medication, provider review, injection supplies and cold shipping included; no membership fee
Price conditions
3-month supply at 2.5 mg weekly on auto-refill, billed $360.40 every 12 weeks; a single 4-week supply bought one time is $174 to $269 by dose; medication, provider review, injection supplies and cold shipping included; no membership fee
Each weekly dose is priced separately: one-time 4-week supplies run $174 (2.5 mg) to $269 (15 mg), and auto-refill takes 15% off. Auto-refill is optional and can be cancelled at any time; a full refund is given if the provider does not prescribe. Ships to all 50 states. Compounded; not FDA-approved.
28-day supply · 3-month upfront payment required
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Mounjaro and compounded tirzepatide compared
The same active ingredient, two different products. Prices are the sellers' own; the full lists are on each price page.
| Compare | Mounjaro | Compounded tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | FDA-approved tirzepatide made by Eli Lilly. | Tirzepatide made by compounding pharmacies. Not FDA-approved, and not a generic of Mounjaro. |
| FDA review | Reviewed and approved by the FDA for the uses on its label. | Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved: the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed. The FDA had received more than 730 reports of adverse events associated with compounded tirzepatide as of May 31, 2026. |
| Approved for |
| No approved use. |
| Forms | Injection (Once weekly) | Injection and tablets, as each seller lists them |
| Sellers with a price | 4 | 33 |
| Lowest price, starting dose |
| ≈ $129 per 30 days at Affinity Direct ($120.14/28 days), the lowest of 8 quotes that state their supply |
| At the top published dose |
| $162.64/28 days at 15 mg, from Affinity Direct |
| Trial results | See its label | None that apply: a brand's trial results are for the brand. |
A lower price is not a like-for-like saving. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved: the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed. It has also received a report of an adverse event from a product labeled as compounded tirzepatide by a pharmacy that did not make it. FDA: concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss
Compounded tirzepatide vs Mounjaro: common questions
Is compounded tirzepatide the same as Mounjaro?
No. Both contain tirzepatide, but Mounjaro is an FDA-approved product made by Eli Lilly, and compounded tirzepatide is made by compounding pharmacies, is not FDA-approved and is not a generic of Mounjaro. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved: the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed. It has also received a report of an adverse event from a product labeled as compounded tirzepatide by a pharmacy that did not make it. FDA: concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss
Is compounded tirzepatide cheaper than Mounjaro?
At the starting dose, the lowest self-pay price is ≈ $535 per 30 days for Mounjaro, $499/28 days at LillyDirect (Eli Lilly). The lowest compounded tirzepatide price that states its supply is ≈ $129 per 30 days: $120.14/28 days at Affinity Direct, on a 3-month plan paid upfront. At the top published dose, ≈ $535 per 30 days for Mounjaro 15 mg, from $499/28 days at LillyDirect (Eli Lilly). The lowest compounded tirzepatide top-dose price that states its supply is ≈ $174 per 30 days at 15 mg: $162.64/28 days at Affinity Direct, on a 3-month plan paid upfront. 33 sellers publish a price for compounded tirzepatide and 4 publish one for Mounjaro. They are different products, so a price gap does not make them interchangeable.
Is compounded tirzepatide as effective as Mounjaro?
Mounjaro's approval rests on its own clinical trials. Those results are for Mounjaro. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for effectiveness, so they do not carry over to a compounded product.
What is Mounjaro approved for?
Glucose control in adults and children 10+ with type 2 diabetes; cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk.
Can pharmacies still make compounded tirzepatide?
The FDA declared the tirzepatide shortage resolved in December 2024, which ended the exemption that let pharmacies make copies of the approved drug in bulk. Compounding is now generally limited to patient-specific prescriptions, and the FDA says compounded drugs should only be used for patients whose medical needs an FDA-approved drug cannot meet. No matching shortage record was returned in the latest complete FDA check.