Dr. Ahmed
Switching from Mounjaro to Ozempic or from Ozempic to Mounjaro may be required for several reasons.
Insurance, cost, side effects, drug availability, and efficacy may all be some of the reasons why a person would want to switch from one drug to another.
Why would a person switch from Ozempic to Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is the brand name of Tirzepatide. It is a “twincretin” marketed by Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals. Twincretin means it activates the receptors of both GLP-1 and GIP.
Ozempic, on the other hand, is a very potent GLP-1 analog. Both Mounjaro and Ozempic lower blood glucose by enhancing the release of insulin in a glucose-dependent mechanism.
Mounjaro has superior A1C and weight-losing effects. It may be readily available in some countries and may be a rescue drug for people who have been on Ozempic and who are not getting Ozempic because of the global shortage.
Mounjaro and Ozempic are both administered weekly into the skin so the schedule and timings of injections also remain the same.
Factors | Mounjaro [Ref] | Ozempic [Ref] |
| A1C lowering effect |
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| Weight loss |
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| Availability | Mounjaro is available in the US, Canada, UK, and Australian pharmacies | Ozempic availability has become an issue recently because of very high demand. |
| Flexible Formulations | 0.5 ml pen injector that contains:
| 0.5 ml pen injector that contains:
|
| Side effects | Same | Same |
Some side effects are more common in patients using Ozempic. Side effects can be the reason patients may switch from Ozempic to Mounjaro.
Side effects that are commonly seen in patients using Ozempic vs Mounjaro are:
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Hypoglycemia
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain, and
- Gall stones.
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Why would a person switch from Mounjaro to Ozempic?
Ozempic got FDA approval for diabetes in 2017 while Mounjaro got approved in 2022. The experience with Ozempic has been extensive.
Mounjaro has been recently approved and real-life experience with the drug is very limited. In addition, it is not widely available throughout the world so far.
People using Mounjaro are likely to have more gastrointestinal side effects. Side effects and drug tolerance are probably the most common reasons why one would like to switch from Mounjaro to Ozempic.
Pancreatitis, Diarrhea, constipation, injection site reactions, and elevated pancreatic enzymes are more common in patients using Mounjaro versus Ozempic.
Here is a table comparing the side effects of Mounjaro and Ozempic:
Ozempic Vs Mounjaro Side effects | ||
Side effects | Ozempic | Mounjaro |
| Contraindications | Allergic reactions MEN II syndrome Medullary thyroid carcinoma | Allergic reactions MEN II syndrome Medullary thyroid carcinoma |
| Pancreatitis | – | 13 out of 14 cases |
| Diabetic Retinopathy | With background disease: 3% vs 1.8 % in the placebo Without background disease: 8.2% vs 5.2% in the placebo | – |
| Hypoglycemia |
vs 15.2% in the placebo |
Vs 13% in the placebo |
| Acute renal failure | Can cause acute renal failure | Can cause acute renal failure |
| Nausea |
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| Vomiting |
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| Diarrhea |
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| Abdominal pain |
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| Constipation |
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| Gallstones |
| 0.6% |
| Amylase | 13% | 38% |
| Lipase | 22% | 42% |
| Injection site reaction | 0.2% | 3.2% |
| Fatigue | 0.4% | – |
| Heart rate | 2 – 3 beats per minute | 2 – 4 beats per minute |
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How to switch from Mounjaro to Ozempic?
When switching from Mounjaro to Ozempic, you need to consider the dose you are currently using and your blood glucose on the current dose.
Because both Mounjaro and Ozempic are administered once weekly, the day and timing of injection will remain the same.
If you were injecting Mounjaro on Sunday, you can start injecting Ozempic the next Sunday (one week after the last dose).
To calculate the dose of Ozempic, you can follow the following guidelines:
Mounjaro Dose | Ozempic Dose Conversion | Remarks |
| 2.5 mg | 0.25 mg | Both are the priming doses |
| 5 mg | 0.5 mg | Mounjaro in a dose of 5 mg is more effective. Therefore, you may need to increase the dose of Ozempic after 4 weeks if your blood sugars are not controlled. |
| 7.5 mg | 0.5 mg | 7.5 mg Mounjaro is more effective but it’s better to start Ozempic in a dose of 0.5 mg |
| 10 mg | 1 mg | Mounjaro 10 mg is more effective but it’s better not to exceed the starting dose of 1 mg |
| 12.5 mg | 1 mg | Can start directly with 1 mg Ozempic. The dose can be further increased to 2 mg. |
| 15 mg | 1 mg | Can start directly with 1 mg Ozempic. The dose can be further increased to 2 mg. |
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How to switch from Ozempic to Mounjaro?
You need to check your blood glucose more frequently when switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro.
Mounjaro is more potent than Ozempic in lowering blood glucose and A1C, therefore, there is an increased risk of hypoglycemia.
It’s better to consult your healthcare provider. Here is a rough guide as to how you can adjust your dose when switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro:
Ozempic Dose | Mounjaro Dose Conversion |
| 0.25 mg | 2.5 mg (priming dose) |
| 0.5 mg | Can start with 5 mg directly or 2.5 mg if you were not tolerating Ozempic |
| 1 mg | It’s better to start in a dose of 5 mg as the A1C lowering effects of 5 mg Mounjaro and 1 mg Ozempic is the same. However, the dose of Mounjaro may be increased to 7.5 mg and 10 mg after 4 weeks. |
| 2 mg | Can start Mounjaro in a dose of 5 mg or 7.5 mg and titrate the dose upwards to the maximum dose of 15 mg if required. |
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To download the Ozempic to Mounjaro Conversion Chart or Mounjaro to Ozempic Conversion Chart, Click this link: Ozempic to Mounjaro Conversion Chart PDF
