Mounjaro versus Ozempic: What are the differences?
- Lucy Zhang, RD, CDE
- 16 hours ago
- 6 min read
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic (semaglutide) are both once-weekly injection medications that are approved for type 2 diabetes treatment in Canada.
Ozempic is likely a more familiar name as it has been approved in Canada since 2018, and has become a bit of a household name with its popularity as a weight loss medication. Mounjaro on the other hand, is the newer kid on the block, having been first approved in Canada in 2022. While initially introduced only in vial form (requiring a syringe for injection), it is now available in pen form similar to Ozempic.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic (semaglutide) is an once-weekly injectable medication. It belongs to the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) analog class of medications, meaning it mimics what our GLP-1 hormone does.
GLP-1 is a hormone produced in our small intestines that is involved in blood sugar regulation - it stimulates insulin release and inhibits glucagon release.
While Ozempic looks very similar to insulin pens and is administered the same way (it comes packaged with 4mm needle tips) - it is NOT insulin.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is an once-weekly injectable medication. It acts to mimic both our GLP-1 hormones and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) hormones. GIP is another incretin hormone that is released in response to intake of food and stimulates insulin release.
While Mounjaro was only available in syringe drawn vials in Canada when initially launched, as of December 2024, Mounjaro is now available in pen form similar to Ozempic and insulin pens.
Unlike Ozempic, Mounjaro does not come packaged with needle tips. This is because while the makers of Ozempic (NovoNordisk) also make the Novofine line of needle tips, the makers of Mounjaro (Eli Lilly) do not make needle tips. Similar to with insulin pens, any standard pen needles will work with the Mounjaro pen (e.g. BD Ultra-Fine Pen Needles 4 mm).
Does Mounjaro and Ozempic help improve blood sugar?
In Canada, both Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved by Health Canada as adjunct therapy to diet and exercise to improve glycemic (blood sugar) control for the treatment of adult patients with type 2 diabetes.
Both can be used alone (if metformin is not tolerated) or in combination with other oral hypoglycemic agents (including Metformin, sulfonylureas such as Gliclazide, and SGLT2 inhibitors such as Jardiance, Forxiga, or Invokana) and/or insulin.
Based on study data, Ozempic has been shown to produce A1C reductions of 1.4% to 2.1% when using 0.5 mg to 2.0 mg doses. While Mounjaro has produced A1C reductions of 2.0% - 2.3% using Mounjaro doses of 5mg up to 15mg.
Does Mounjaro and Ozempic help with weight loss?
Use of Ozempic or Mounjaro for weight loss in individuals without diabetes is considered off label use.
In studies, Ozempic produced weight loss of up to 14 lb at the highest dose. Where Mounjaro produced weight loss of up to 11.2 kg at the highest dose of 15 mg.
What are the common side effects of Mounjaro and Ozempic?
The most common side effects of both Ozempic and Mounjaro are:
Nausea
Diarrhea
Stomach (Abdominal) pain
Vomiting
Constipation
Both are started at a low dose, then titrated up gradually to support improved tolerance. Most people notice symptoms improvement over time.
Ozempic is typically started at a very low dose (0.25mg) weekly for the first 4 weeks before being titrated up to a therapeutic dose of 0.5 mg. If well tolerated, it can then be increased to 1.0 mg. The maximum dose of Ozempic is 2.0 mg.
Mounjaro is started at a dose of 2.5 mg weekly for the first 4 weeks, before being titrated up to a therapeutic dose of 5 mg. If well tolerated and further support for blood glucose and weight loss are warranted, it can be increased up to the following doses: 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, up to a maximum of 15 mg.
How to manage side effects of Mounjaro and Ozempic?
Here are a few tips to help manage gastrointestinal side effects common for Mounjaro and Ozempic:
Try smaller servings at meals
Larger meals can aggravate gastrointestinal side effects more.
Avoid fried or greasy meals
Meals that are higher in fat content are slower to empty from the stomach, which can further aggravate side effects of these medications.
Try bland foods (e.g. toast, crackers, rice)
Similarly, foods eaten at room temperature or cold (e.g. sandwich, salad) may be better tolerated when experiencing nausea as they often have less of a smell.
Ensure you are well hydrated
Some people experience a decrease in thirst cues along with a decrease in appetite with use of Mounjaro or Ozempic. It’s important to ensure you are drinking enough water (1.5 - 2L/d is a good rule of thumb for most people) through the day to help support adequate hydration and bowel regularity.
Be sure to discuss with your physician if you are finding side effects to be difficult to manage.
Is there insurance coverage for Mounjaro or Ozempic in Canada?
In Ontario, 0.5mg and 1.0 mg Ozempic pens are covered for those with coverage under Ontario Drug Benefits for the management of type 2 diabetes.
It is also covered by many private insurance providers for adults with type 2 diabetes, though may require a special authorization form to be completed by your prescribing doctor. This is because insurance providers are looking for you to also be using Metformin to support blood glucose management OR for evidence that you have tried Metformin and did not tolerate it.
Mounjaro is not currently covered by any public coverage programs (e.g. Ontario Drug Benefits) in Canada at this time. However, it is covered by many private insurance providers for adults with type 2 diabetes. Similar to Ozempic, approval for coverage may require a special authorization form to be completed by your prescribing doctor.
Use of Mounjaro or Ozempic in people without diabetes for weight loss is considered off-label use. Coverage would likely not apply if you do not have a diagnosis of diabetes.
What is the cost of Mounjaro in Canada? What is the cost of Ozempic in Canada?
If you will be paying out of pocket for Ozempic or Mounjaro, here is an approximation of what you can expect to pay:
Each Ozempic pen contains 4 doses, thus lasting 4 weeks. The cost is approximately $250 per month.
Each Mounjaro pen contains 4 doses, thus lasting 4 weeks. The cost increases as the weekly dose increases. Mounjaro’s pens for 2.5 mg/week and 5 mg/week are approximately $380 per pen. The 7.5 mg/week and 10 mg/week pens are $530 per pen. And the 12.5 mg/week and 15 mg/week pens are about $760.
It’s important to consider the long-term financial feasibility of paying out of pocket. With both Ozempic and Mounjaro, people who stop using these medications will typically experience weight regain as the appetite dampening effects of the medications wear off. Thus, in order to maintain the weight loss achieved, you would need to continue on these medications long term.
Are there any financial assistance programs for Mounjaro or Ozempic in Canada?
Eli Lilly Canada does offer a patient support program for Mounjaro which anyone can access at MyMounjaro.ca to sign up for a savings card. The savings card does help to reduce the out of pocket cost of Mounjaro by $300 - $450 per pen, with savings being proportionally more at the higher doses. For those with partial coverage for Mounjaro, you may find the savings card helpful for covering your copay amount.
NovoNordisk also offers a savings card for Ozempic. You can sign up for a savings card at Novo Nordisk Care® Savings Card Program | For Canadian patients. At this time, the savings card only reduce out of pocket costs by about $12 with each refill.
References
Drug and Health Product Portal: Regulatory Decision Summary for Mounjaro. Government of Canada. https://dhpp.hpfb-dgpsa.ca/review-documents/resource/RDS01047. Accessed Jan 20, 2026.
Drug and Health Product Portal: Summary Basis of Decision for Ozempic. Government of Canada. https://dhpp.hpfb-dgpsa.ca/review-documents/resource/SBD00388. Accessed Jan 20, 2026.
Product Monograph: Mounjaro. https://pi.lilly.com/ca/mounjaro-ca-pmi.pdf. Accessed Jan 20, 2026.
Product Monograph: Ozempic. https://www.novonordisk.ca/content/dam/nncorp/ca/en/products/ozempic-product-monograph-non-annotated-4-aug-2023-consumer-en.pdf. Accessed Jan 20, 2026.
Comments