Mounjaro vs Ozempic in Australia
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is registered in Australia for type 2 diabetes, chronic weight management and obstructive sleep apnoea. Ozempic (semaglutide) is registered for type 2 diabetes only, the only use the PBS subsidises. In the one direct trial, SURPASS-2, tirzepatide produced more weight loss and a larger fall in HbA1c than semaglutide 1 mg over 40 weeks. On a private script an Ozempic pen costs a little over a third of Mounjaro's cheapest maintenance pen.
Short answer
SURPASS-2, the only direct trial, randomised 1,879 adults with type 2 diabetes for 40 weeks. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) 5, 10 and 15 mg produced 7.6, 9.3 and 11.2 kg of weight loss against 5.7 kg on semaglutide 1 mg (Ozempic). Ozempic is far cheaper: $144.99 a pen on a private script at Chemist Warehouse on 9 November 2026, or $25.00 on the PBS for type 2 diabetes, against $389.99 to $689.99 for Mounjaro's maintenance doses. Mounjaro is registered for weight management; Ozempic is not.
- Last updated:
- 9 November 2026
- Prices, PBS and supply checked:
- 9 November 2026
Prices at three retailers, the PBS Schedule effective 1 November 2026, the PBS medicine status record for tirzepatide, the November 2026 PBAC agenda and the TGA shortage database were rechecked on 9 November 2026. The PBS restriction text (current at 1 October 2026), both Australian Product Information documents and the SURPASS-2 paper were rechecked on 6 October 2026.
Compare Mounjaro vs Ozempic at a Glance
Prices, PBS and supply rows as at 9 November 2026. Weight loss figures are trial averages at the highest dose studied; see the head-to-head section for the direct comparison.
The Evidence: SURPASS-2
Many Mounjaro vs Ozempic comparisons, this page included until October 2026, set SURMOUNT-1 (tirzepatide 15 mg, 20.9%) against STEP 1 (semaglutide 2.4 mg, 14.9%) and called the second number Ozempic. STEP 1 tested the Wegovy dose in people without diabetes. The only trial of tirzepatide against semaglutide at an Ozempic dose is SURPASS-2 (New England Journal of Medicine, June 2021).
It randomised 1,879 adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin to tirzepatide 5, 10 or 15 mg or semaglutide 1 mg, once weekly for 40 weeks, open-label with the tirzepatide dose blinded. Average starting weight was 93.7 kg, HbA1c 8.28%, BMI 34, and participants had had diabetes for 8.6 years. Eli Lilly funded it.
| Result at 40 weeks | Mounjaro (tirzepatide 5 / 10 / 15 mg) | Ozempic (semaglutide 1 mg) |
|---|---|---|
| Average weight change | -7.6 / -9.3 / -11.2 kg | -5.7 kg |
| HbA1c change | -2.01 / -2.24 / -2.30 points | -1.86 points |
| Lost 5% or more of body weight | 65% to 80% | 54% |
| Lost 10% or more | 34% to 57% | 24% |
| Lost 15% or more | 15% to 36% | 8% |
| Nausea | 17% to 22% | 18% |
| Diarrhoea | 13% to 16% | 12% |
| Vomiting | 6% to 10% | 8% |
Frías et al, NEJM 2021, treatment-regimen estimand. The Australian Mounjaro Product Information reproduces the trial as its Table 7 using the efficacy estimand, which gives slightly larger figures (-7.8 to -12.4 kg against -6.2 kg). Sources 1 to 3 below.
Every tirzepatide dose beat semaglutide 1 mg on weight and HbA1c: by 1.9 kg at 5 mg, 3.6 kg at 10 mg and 5.5 kg at 15 mg. Gut side effects were in the same range in all four groups.
Everyone had type 2 diabetes and weighed about 94 kg at the start, so the percentages are smaller than in the obesity trials. No trial compares Mounjaro with Ozempic doses in people without diabetes.
The semaglutide arm was capped at 1 mg. The Australian Ozempic Product Information allows a further step to 2 mg; in SUSTAIN FORTE (961 adults with type 2 diabetes, 40 weeks, Novo Nordisk) 2 mg produced 6.9 kg of loss against 6.0 kg at 1 mg.
It ran 40 weeks. The obesity trials behind the headline percentages ran 68 to 72 weeks.
Ozempic's own weight figures, from the diabetes trials in its Australian Product Information, are 3.7 to 6.9 kg over 30 to 56 weeks, 2 to 5 kg more than placebo in the placebo-controlled trials, reported as a secondary outcome, not a use.
The same molecule at a higher dose is Wegovy. STEP 2 (1,210 adults with type 2 diabetes, 68 weeks, Novo Nordisk) found 9.6% loss at semaglutide 2.4 mg, 7.0% at 1.0 mg (the sponsor's figure; the published abstract reports only the 2.4 mg contrast) and 3.4% on placebo. SURMOUNT-5 (751 adults without diabetes, 72 weeks) found 20.2% on tirzepatide against 13.7% on semaglutide 2.4 mg, a comparison with Wegovy, not Ozempic. A BMJ network meta-analysis (July 2026, 262 trials) put one-year loss against lifestyle alone at 14.9% for tirzepatide and 9.8% for injected semaglutide across 31 trials.
Mounjaro vs Ozempic Prices in Australia
Prices checked 9 November 2026.
Ozempic is cheaper on every basis. A private Ozempic pen, any strength, was $144.99 at Chemist Warehouse, $145.00 at Your Discount Chemist and $150.00 at Chemist Outlet on 9 November 2026. Mounjaro's maintenance pens were $389.99 (5 mg), $539.99 (10 mg) and $689.99 (15 mg) at Chemist Warehouse: $245 to $545 a month more than Ozempic 1 mg. Someone with type 2 diabetes who meets the PBS criteria pays $25.00 a script for Ozempic ($7.70 concession). Mounjaro has no PBS price for anyone.
One pen holds four weekly doses, so one pen is one month. Chemist Warehouse lists Mounjaro as in store only; all three retailers require an Australian script.
| Strength | Used as | Chemist Warehouse | Your Discount Chemist | Chemist Outlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic 0.25 mg / 0.5 mg (3 mL pen) | Weeks 1 to 4 at 0.25 mg, then 0.5 mg (can be maintenance) | $144.99 private; $25.00 PBS | $145.00 private; $25.00 PBS | $150.00 |
| Ozempic 1 mg (3 mL pen) | Maintenance from week 9 if the dose is increased | $144.99 private; $25.00 PBS | $145.00 private; $25.00 PBS | $150.00 |
| Ozempic 2 mg | Optional highest dose | not listed | not listed | not listed |
| Mounjaro 2.5 mg | Weeks 1 to 4 only | $279.99 | $279.00 | not listed |
| Mounjaro 5 mg | Maintenance (lowest) | $389.99 | $389.00 | $420.00 |
| Mounjaro 7.5 mg | Step up only | $539.99 | $539.00 | not listed |
| Mounjaro 10 mg | Maintenance | $539.99 | $539.00 | $570.00 |
| Mounjaro 12.5 mg | Step up only | $689.99 | $689.00 | $720.00 |
| Mounjaro 15 mg | Maintenance (highest) | $689.99 | $689.00 | $720.00 |
Per pen, four weekly doses, read from the retailers' product pages on 9 November 2026. The PBS price applies only to a type 2 diabetes script that meets the authority criteria; the official concession co-payment is $7.70, although Chemist Warehouse and Your Discount Chemist display $7.10. Chemist Warehouse's starter-pen page is still the 1.5 mL presentation the TGA lists as deleted on 31 December 2025; the 3 mL replacement delivers the same doses. The 2 mg pen is registered but not on the PBS and not listed by any of the three.
What the first year costs
| Path over 52 weeks (13 pens) | Cost at Chemist Warehouse prices |
|---|---|
| Ozempic on the PBS for type 2 diabetes, general patient | $325 |
| Ozempic on a private script, 0.25 mg then 0.5 mg then 1 mg from week 9 | $1,885 |
| Mounjaro, step up to 5 mg at week 5 and stay there | $4,960 |
| Mounjaro, step up to 10 mg by week 13 and stay there | $6,610 |
| Mounjaro, step up to 15 mg by week 21 and stay there | $7,960 |
Illustrative. Assumes one pen every four weeks on the registered schedule with no delays, missed doses or price changes; the Ozempic starter pen holds eight 0.25 mg doses, so the first weeks may use fewer pens. Ozempic 2 mg is not costed because no retailer lists the pen; two 1 mg pens a month would be about $290, an estimate from the pen contents, not a listed price.
Costs on top of the medicine
- A script every month or every few months. The average out-of-pocket cost of a standard consultation at a GP clinic that does not bulk bill was almost $50 in January 2026 (Cleanbill). Telehealth consultations cost $20 (Hims) to $89 (InstantScripts), or are bundled into a monthly program price of $338 to $499 at Juniper, Hims, Moshy, Mosh and hub.health. No bundle price says which medicine or dose it buys.
- Pen needles for Mounjaro. The KwikPen pack contains none; a 100-pack of NovoFine 32G 4 mm needles was $19.95 at Your Discount Chemist and Novofine Plus 32G 4 mm $24.99 at Chemist Outlet on 9 November 2026. The Ozempic Product Information lists packs with needles (six with the starter pen, four with the 1 mg pen) and without, and says not all pack sizes may be marketed; which pack a pharmacy supplies was not checked.
- A sharps container for used needles, sold by pharmacies.
- Blood tests or review appointments the prescriber asks for.
How these prices were checked
Prices were read from the product pages of Chemist Warehouse, Your Discount Chemist and Chemist Outlet on 9 November 2026. Chemist Warehouse and Your Discount Chemist prices were unchanged from 6 October 2026; the Chemist Outlet Mounjaro 12.5 mg price was not found at that check. Prices are rechecked every three months; if a figure has gone longer unchecked, the date at the top says so. Lilly set a $285 recommended price for the Mounjaro 2.5 mg pen from 1 December 2024, down from $350 to $400; no recommended price was found for the other strengths.
Compare Mounjaro vs Ozempic Cost in Australia
Private prescription cost per month in AUD.
Is Mounjaro or Ozempic on the PBS?
PBS status verified 9 November 2026
- Mounjaro
- Not on the PBS for any use.
- The PBAC recommended it for type 2 diabetes in March 2026. Lilly said on 24 April 2026, after four unsuccessful attempts, that the listing would not proceed because the price the government would pay was "significantly lower than any other reimbursed price globally", and that it was "difficult to see" how a listing for obesity could be secured. The PBS record now reads: "The pharmaceutical company has advised that it is not proceeding in the PBS listing process at this time. The process for listing this medicine has ceased." Lilly had made no application to list Mounjaro for weight management as at the PBAC's March 2026 advice, tirzepatide is not on the November 2026 PBAC agenda, and its chief executive said on 12 August 2026 that the company is "not interested in access at any price point".
- Ozempic
- Listed for type 2 diabetes only.
- The restriction, in force since 1 June 2024, requires use with metformin, a sulfonylurea or insulin, an inadequate response to one of those, and an SGLT2 inhibitor that has failed or could not be tolerated. The first script needs a telephone or online authority; continuing scripts are streamlined. The listing covers the 1 mg pen and the 0.25/0.5 mg 3 mL pen, not the 2 mg pen. The co-payment is $25.00 general and $7.70 concession. In March 2025 the Department of Health sent more than 1,000 letters to doctors who had written PBS Ozempic scripts for patients with no history of type 2 diabetes, reminding them that off-label prescribing must be on a private script. The PBAC's November 2025 record puts 2024 private supply at about 1.2 million Ozempic units and 1.6 million units of tirzepatide.
- TGA registration
- The TGA has assessed the medicine as safe and effective for a stated use, so it can be prescribed and sold here. Mounjaro has it for type 2 diabetes, chronic weight management and obstructive sleep apnoea; Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, with or without chronic kidney disease, not for weight management.
- PBS listing
- The government subsidises the medicine for a defined group, who pay the co-payment. Ozempic has it for type 2 diabetes under the criteria above; Mounjaro has none.
- Private prescription
- Any registered doctor, or a nurse practitioner within their scope of practice and state or territory rules, can write one for a TGA-registered medicine; the patient pays the pharmacy's full price. This is how everyone gets Mounjaro, and how anyone gets Ozempic outside the PBS criteria.
- Private health extras
- Some funds pay a benefit on non-PBS prescription medicines, but weight-loss medicines are often excluded or capped. HCF excludes them. Teachers Health pays up to $60 a purchase, less the PBS co-payment, on its Top Extras cover. Bupa pays on "select" weight-loss medicines with yearly limits.
Mounjaro and Ozempic Supply in Australia
Supply status verified 9 November 2026
- Mounjaro
- No shortage notice and no tirzepatide entry in the database.
- The vial form was discontinued in June 2025; the KwikPen is the only form supplied in Australia.
- Ozempic
- No current shortage.
- The TGA recorded a semaglutide shortage from 15 April 2022, attributed to off-label demand for weight loss, and removed Ozempic from the list on 18 July 2025, allowing new patients to be started again. The only semaglutide entry now is a discontinuation: the 1.5 mL 0.25/0.5 mg pen was deleted on 31 December 2025 and replaced by a 3 mL pen delivering the same doses.
Different strengths of the same medicine can go short at different times. The database is the authority; this line is updated each quarter and whenever a notice appears.
Compare Mounjaro vs Ozempic Weight Loss Efficacy
Mounjaro Clinical Trials
Ozempic Clinical Trials
SURMOUNT-5 (vs Wegovy)
20.2% vs 13.7% with semaglutide (NEJM, treatment-regimen); PI efficacy estimand 21.6% vs 15.4%
SURMOUNT-1
20.9% weight loss (15mg) vs 3.1% placebo
SURMOUNT-2
14.7% weight loss at 15mg (published); PI efficacy estimand 13.4% (10mg) and 15.7% (15mg) vs 3.3%
SURMOUNT-4
Switched to placebo: +14.0% body weight over 52 weeks; continued: a further 5.5% loss
SUSTAIN 1
-3.7 kg (0.5mg) and -4.5 kg (1mg) vs -1.0 kg placebo (type 2 diabetes)
SUSTAIN FORTE
-6.9 kg at 2mg vs -6.0 kg at 1mg
FLOW (chronic kidney disease)
Kidney failure, 50% eGFR fall, or kidney or CV death 24% lower vs placebo (HR 0.76)
SURPASS-2 (vs Mounjaro)
-5.7 kg at 1mg vs -7.6 to -11.2 kg with tirzepatide
STEP 2 (1mg arm)
-7.0% (sponsor-reported) vs -3.4% placebo (type 2 diabetes)
Clinical trial data at highest approved doses. Individual results vary.
Compare Mounjaro vs Ozempic Side Effects
Mounjaro
Ozempic
Very common
- Nausea (25-29% vs 9% placebo)
- Diarrhoea (19-23%)
- Constipation (11-17%)
- Vomiting (8-13%)
- Abdominal pain (weight-management and sleep apnoea trials)
Common
- Decreased appetite (9-11%)
- Indigestion
- Burping and reflux
- Hair loss (4.7%)
- Dizziness
- Injection site reactions
Serious (rare)
- Acute pancreatitis
- Gallstones and gallbladder inflammation (uncommon)
- Dehydration and kidney injury
- Sudden vision loss (NAION, post-marketing reports)
- Low blood sugar with insulin or sulfonylureas
- Reduced oral contraceptive absorption (use a non-oral or barrier method for 4 weeks after starting and after each dose increase)
Very common
- Nausea (17-20% vs 6% on comparators)
- Diarrhoea (12-13%)
- Low blood sugar when used with insulin or a sulfonylurea
Common
- Vomiting (6-8%)
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Indigestion
- Gallstones
- Decreased appetite
- Fatigue
Serious
- Acute pancreatitis
- Dehydration and kidney injury
- Diabetic retinopathy complications
- Sudden vision loss (NAION)
- Severe allergic reaction (rare)
Safety: What the Australian Product Information Says
The figures here come from the Australian Product Information for each medicine, the document the TGA approved, not from the American labels, which differ. The two documents report side effects from different trial populations, so their tables are not a comparison. In Ozempic's pooled diabetes trials, nausea affected 17.0% of people on 0.5 mg and 19.9% on 1 mg, against 6.3% on comparators; diarrhoea 12.2% and 13.3% against 5.7%; vomiting 6.4% and 8.4% against 3.3%; discontinuation for any adverse event 6.1% and 8.7% against 1.5%. In Mounjaro's weight-management trials, nausea affected 24.6% to 29.0% depending on dose against 8.5% on placebo; diarrhoea 18.7% to 22.5% against 7.8%; vomiting 8.3% to 12.5% against 2.2%. The like-for-like figures are the SURPASS-2 arms above, measured in the same people over the same 40 weeks.
Symptoms that need urgent medical attention, listed in both Consumer Medicine Information leaflets: severe and persistent pain in the stomach and back (possible pancreatitis), allergic reaction (rash, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing), loss of vision, and bowel obstruction (the Mounjaro leaflet describes it as severe stomach pain with bloating, vomiting or constipation). The Mounjaro leaflet also lists gallbladder problems (sudden severe upper abdominal pain, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes). Severe vomiting or diarrhoea can cause dehydration and kidney problems; the Ozempic document lists acute kidney injury among post-marketing reports.
Vision loss (NAION): the Ozempic Product Information carries a formal warning that some epidemiological studies indicate an increased risk of this rare optic nerve condition during treatment with semaglutide, and says to stop if it is confirmed. The TGA's Advisory Committee on Medicines concluded at its October 2025 meeting that the evidence may support the signal for semaglutide but not tirzepatide (TGA safety update, 23 July 2026), so the Mounjaro document records the reports under post-marketing data without a warning.
Diabetic eye disease: the Ozempic document reports more diabetic retinopathy complications on semaglutide than placebo in SUSTAIN 6 (3.0% against 1.8%), with the largest increase in people on insulin who already had retinopathy. The Mounjaro document has no equivalent finding.
Oral contraceptives: Mounjaro lowers blood levels of the combined pill. Since December 2025 the TGA advice is to switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method for four weeks after starting and for four weeks after each dose increase. The Ozempic document reports no clinically relevant effect on the pill.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: neither should be used in pregnancy (both are Category D). Ozempic must be stopped at least two months before trying to conceive, Mounjaro at least one month. Ozempic should not be used while breastfeeding; Mounjaro only if the benefit to the mother justifies the possible risk to the infant.
Both documents list hypoglycaemia as a risk with insulin or a sulfonylurea, and both warn about acute pancreatitis (stop and do not restart if confirmed), gastroparesis, dehydration and the class-wide reports of suicidal thoughts and behaviour that the TGA aligned across GLP-1 medicines in December 2025. The Ozempic document also notes a risk of stomach contents entering the lungs under general anaesthesia or deep sedation, and advises against use in severe heart failure. The only formal contraindication for either is allergy to the ingredient.
This is not a complete list of adverse effects. The Consumer Medicine Information is.
Compare How Mounjaro and Ozempic Work
Mounjaro
Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist
Long-acting GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. Reduces food intake and delays stomach emptying; lowers fasting and after-meal glucose, increases insulin secretion and sensitivity, and lowers glucagon. Weight lost is mostly fat mass.
Ozempic
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Mimics the natural hormone GLP-1. Slows gastric emptying, increases insulin production, reduces glucagon, and acts on appetite centres in the brain to reduce hunger. Once-weekly injection in abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.
Compare Mounjaro vs Ozempic Dosing Schedule
Mounjaro
Weekly injection
| Dose | Period | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5mg | Weeks 1-4 | Starting dose (not a maintenance dose) |
| 5mg | From week 5 | Maintenance; increase only if needed |
| 7.5mg | At least 4 weeks on 5mg first | Step-up only |
| 10mg | At least 4 weeks on 7.5mg first | Maintenance (maximum for ages 10-17) |
| 12.5mg | At least 4 weeks on 10mg first | Step-up only |
| 15mg | At least 4 weeks on 12.5mg first | Maximum maintenance dose |
Ozempic
Weekly subcutaneous injection
| Dose | Period | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 0.25mg | Weeks 1-4 | Starting dose |
| 0.5mg | Week 5 onwards | Maintenance dose |
| 1mg | After at least 4 weeks on 0.5mg, if needed | Maintenance dose; highest dose for type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease |
| 2mg | After at least 4 weeks on 1mg, if needed | Maximum dose, type 2 diabetes only (2mg pen registered; not on the PBS) |
Compare Mounjaro vs Ozempic Australian Regulatory Status
Mounjaro
- TGA Status
- Registered for type 2 diabetes in adults (Dec 2022), chronic weight management (Sep 2024), moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea with obesity (Jun 2025) and type 2 diabetes in children aged 10 and over weighing 50 kg or more (PI revised 2 Oct 2026). Cardiovascular-risk reduction in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease under TGA evaluation since Dec 2025.
- PBS Listed
- No, for any indication. PBAC recommended a type 2 diabetes listing in Mar 2026; Lilly said on 24 Apr 2026 the listing would not proceed, and the PBS record (current at 1 Nov 2026) says the listing process has ceased. No application has been made for weight management. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
- Zepbound Brand
- Zepbound is the US brand of tirzepatide for weight management and sleep apnoea. It is not on the ARTG; Mounjaro carries all of its Australian indications.
- Supply Status
- No TGA shortage notice for any KwikPen strength (checked 9 Nov 2026). Vials were discontinued in Jun 2025; the KwikPen is the only form supplied.
- Oral Version
- Lilly's oral orforglipron (proposed Australian name Nexvound) was accepted for TGA evaluation in Jan 2026 for weight management and type 2 diabetes; still under evaluation, no ARTG entry, as at 9 Nov 2026
Ozempic
- TGA Status
- Registered for type 2 diabetes (2019) and type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease (Aug 2025). Not registered for weight management.
- PBS Listed
- Yes, for type 2 diabetes with authority criteria (with metformin, a sulfonylurea or insulin, after an SGLT2 inhibitor has not worked, is contraindicated or was not tolerated; first script by telephone or online authority). $25.00 a script, $7.70 concession.
- Off-label Use
- A script for weight loss is private and at the prescriber's discretion. The TGA says advertising Ozempic for weight loss is illegal, and in Mar 2025 the Department of Health and Aged Care wrote to more than 1,000 doctors who had prescribed PBS Ozempic to patients with no history of type 2 diabetes, reminding them off-label prescribing must be private.
- Supply Status
- Shortage 15 Apr 2022 to 18 Jul 2025; no shortage notice as at 9 Nov 2026. The 1.5 mL starter pen was deleted 31 Dec 2025 and replaced by a 3 mL pen.
- Compounding
- Compounded versions banned from 1 October 2024
Getting a Prescription
Both are Schedule 4 prescription-only medicines. Compounded versions have been illegal to make or supply in Australia since 1 October 2024, and in March 2026 the TGA reported that laboratory tests of imported unregistered products labelled as GLP-1 found they contained none.
A GP, a specialist or a nurse practitioner (within their scope of practice; rules vary by state and territory) can prescribe either. For Mounjaro's weight-management indication the Product Information sets a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to 30 with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnoea, heart disease or prediabetes, alongside a reduced-energy diet and more physical activity.
Ozempic for anything other than type 2 diabetes is off-label and must be on a private script. The TGA's position during the shortage, quoted by the University of Sydney in April 2024 (the TGA page has since been removed), was that it cannot regulate doctors' clinical decisions or prevent off-label prescribing. The TGA states that advertising Ozempic for weight loss is illegal, including to health professionals. Australian Prescriber records that Ozempic does not have approval for weight management, and Healthdirect lists it as approved for type 2 diabetes; the registered semaglutide product for weight management is Wegovy.
Telehealth weight-loss programs (Juniper, Hims, Moshy, Mosh, Youly, hub.health, InstantScripts and others) bundle consultations, medicine and delivery into a monthly price; the medicine and dose are decided at the consultation, not by the bundle.
Which Is Better?
In the only direct trial tirzepatide produced more weight loss and a larger HbA1c reduction than semaglutide 1 mg at every dose, with gut side effects in the same range. That makes Mounjaro the more effective medicine for the average trial participant with type 2 diabetes. It is the only one of the two registered for weight management, and the more expensive by $245 to $545 a month on a private script, or $365 to $665 against PBS Ozempic for someone who meets the diabetes criteria. For weight loss without diabetes the comparison is between a registered use and an off-label one, and no trial has made it.
| Consideration | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Whether you have type 2 diabetes | It decides the price. PBS Ozempic is $25.00 a script for people who meet the criteria; Mounjaro is private for everyone, including people with diabetes |
| What the medicine is registered for | Mounjaro is registered for chronic weight management; Ozempic is not. A weight-loss script for Ozempic is off-label and private |
| How much weight loss you are aiming for | In SURPASS-2, 15% or more loss was reached by 8% of people on semaglutide 1 mg and 15% to 36% on tirzepatide, depending on dose |
| Monthly cost for as long as you take it | Ozempic $144.99 private or $25.00 PBS; Mounjaro $389.99 to $689.99 by maintenance dose, at Chemist Warehouse on 9 November 2026. Weight is usually regained after stopping |
| How you handle gut side effects | Nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting rates were similar across all four SURPASS-2 arms. Both documents set a minimum of four weeks on each dose before the next step; Australian Prescriber (December 2025) suggests a dose reduction before stopping for mild gut effects |
| Kidney disease with diabetes | Ozempic is registered to reduce the risk of kidney function decline and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease; Mounjaro is not |
| Sleep apnoea | Mounjaro is registered for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea with obesity; Ozempic is not |
| Eyes | Ozempic carries the NAION warning and the diabetic retinopathy finding; Mounjaro does not |
| Pregnancy plans and contraception | Both must be stopped before conceiving (Ozempic two months, Mounjaro one). Mounjaro weakens the oral contraceptive pill |
Switching Between Them
No Australian guideline covers switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro or back. Neither Product Information gives a dose conversion to the other or addresses combining with other GLP-1 products; the Mounjaro document mentions semaglutide only as a trial comparator. The Wegovy document, for the same molecule as Ozempic, says semaglutide should not be used with other GLP-1 receptor agonist products: the combination has not been evaluated and an increased risk of overdose-related adverse reactions is considered likely.
The milligram figures are not equivalent: 1 mg of Ozempic is not 5 mg of Mounjaro. Each document gives one starting dose (Ozempic 0.25 mg, Mounjaro 2.5 mg) with steps every four weeks and no shortcut for people arriving from the other, so a switch means repeating an escalation period and its side effects. British pharmacists writing in the Pharmaceutical Journal in 2025 describe, in the absence of official guidance, either a same-day switch (start the new medicine on the day the next dose of the old one was due) or a one- to two-week washout, preferred where side effects were a problem, then the new medicine at its lowest dose, titrated up. That is practitioner practice, not a guideline.
Weight regain after stopping either medicine is documented. A year after stopping semaglutide 2.4 mg in the STEP 1 extension (an exploratory subset of 327 participants), people had regained two thirds of what they lost. In SURMOUNT-4, people switched from tirzepatide to placebo regained 14% of their body weight in a year while those who continued lost a further 5.5%. Australian Prescriber's December 2025 review says that when treatment is stopped, regaining weight is the norm.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- Do I have type 2 diabetes and meet the PBS criteria for Ozempic, or would any script for me be private?
- If I am being prescribed Ozempic for weight, what does that mean for the indication, the price and the follow-up?
- Which Mounjaro maintenance dose are you aiming for, and what will it cost each month at my pharmacy?
- How often will I need a review and a new script, and what will each visit cost?
- What should I do if nausea or vomiting is bad after a dose increase?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek urgent care?
- I take the pill, or I am planning a pregnancy. What changes?
- What is the plan if I plateau, and what is the plan if I need to stop?
Mounjaro vs Ozempic FAQ
Is Ozempic cheaper than Mounjaro in Australia?
Yes, by a wide margin. On 9 November 2026 Chemist Warehouse listed any Ozempic pen at $144.99 on a private script, or $25.00 on the PBS for type 2 diabetes, against $279.99 for the Mounjaro 2.5 mg starter and $389.99, $539.99 and $689.99 for the 5, 10 and 15 mg maintenance pens. The smallest gap is $245 a month.
How much does Mounjaro cost per month in Australia?
$279.99 for the first four weeks at 2.5 mg, then $389.99 at 5 mg, $539.99 at 7.5 mg or 10 mg, and $689.99 at 12.5 mg or 15 mg, at Chemist Warehouse on 9 November 2026. Your Discount Chemist was within $1 of each figure and Chemist Outlet $30 higher on the doses it stocks. One pen is four weekly doses.
Is Mounjaro better than Ozempic for weight loss?
In the only direct trial, SURPASS-2 (1,879 adults with type 2 diabetes, 40 weeks), every tirzepatide dose produced more weight loss than semaglutide 1 mg: 7.6, 9.3 and 11.2 kg against 5.7 kg. No trial has compared them in people without diabetes, and Ozempic is not registered for weight loss in Australia.
Is Mounjaro the same as Ozempic?
No. Ozempic is semaglutide, which acts on one gut hormone receptor (GLP-1). Mounjaro is tirzepatide, which acts on two (GIP and GLP-1). Different companies make them and their milligram figures cannot be converted. Wegovy is the same molecule as Ozempic, at higher doses registered for weight management.
Is Mounjaro approved for weight loss in Australia?
Yes. The TGA registered Mounjaro for chronic weight management on 10 September 2024, for adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to 30 with a weight-related condition. It was registered for type 2 diabetes in December 2022 and for obstructive sleep apnoea with obesity in June 2025. It is not on the PBS for any of these.
Can I get Ozempic for weight loss in Australia?
Ozempic is registered for type 2 diabetes only. A doctor can prescribe it off-label, which the TGA has said (2024) it has no power to prevent, but the script must be private, not PBS, at $144.99 to $150.00 a pen. It is illegal to advertise Ozempic for weight loss. The registered semaglutide product for weight management is Wegovy.
Is Ozempic on the PBS?
For type 2 diabetes only, under authority criteria: with metformin, a sulfonylurea or insulin, after one of those has not controlled the diabetes and after an SGLT2 inhibitor has failed or could not be tolerated. The co-payment is $25.00, or $7.70 concession. In March 2025 the Department of Health wrote to more than 1,000 doctors who had used the PBS for patients without diabetes.
Is Mounjaro on the PBS?
No, for any use. The PBAC recommended it for type 2 diabetes in March 2026, but Lilly declined the listing in April 2026 over price after four attempts. Lilly has not applied for a weight-management listing and said in April 2026 it was "difficult to see" how one could be secured.
What is the difference between Mounjaro and Ozempic side effects?
In SURPASS-2, nausea was 17% to 22% on tirzepatide and 18% on semaglutide 1 mg, diarrhoea 13% to 16% against 12%, and vomiting 6% to 10% against 8%. The Australian Product Information documents differ on these points: Ozempic carries a warning about a rare optic nerve condition (NAION) and a finding on diabetic retinopathy complications; Mounjaro reduces the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill.
Can I get Zepbound in Australia?
No. Zepbound is the American brand name for tirzepatide for weight loss and is not registered in Australia. Here Mounjaro carries the weight-management indication as well as type 2 diabetes and sleep apnoea.
How does Wegovy fit in?
Wegovy is semaglutide, the same molecule as Ozempic, at doses up to 2.4 mg and registered for chronic weight management. Its 2.4 mg pen was $369.99 at Chemist Warehouse on 9 November 2026, between Ozempic ($144.99) and Mounjaro 5 mg ($389.99). In SURMOUNT-5 (72 weeks, no diabetes) tirzepatide produced 20.2% loss against 13.7% on semaglutide 2.4 mg.
Sources and References
- Frías JP et al. Tirzepatide versus Semaglutide Once Weekly in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (SURPASS-2). N Engl J Med, 25 June 2021
- Frías JP et al. SURPASS-2 abstract, Europe PMC, 2021
- Mounjaro Australian Product Information, Eli Lilly, revised 2 October 2026
- Ozempic Australian Product Information, Novo Nordisk, revised 25 September 2026 (PDF)
- Ozempic Australian Product Information, Medsinfo HTML, last reviewed October 2026
- Ozempic Consumer Medicine Information, August 2026
- Mounjaro KwikPen Consumer Medicine Information, September 2026
- Davies M et al. Semaglutide 2.4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2). Lancet, 2 March 2021
- Novo Nordisk, STEP 2 results announcement, 12 June 2020
- Frías JP et al. Efficacy and safety of once-weekly semaglutide 2.0 mg versus 1.0 mg in patients with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN FORTE). Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol, 21 July 2021
- Aronne LJ et al. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-5). N Engl J Med 2025
- Comparative effects of drugs for adults with overweight or obesity: systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ, 8 July 2026
- Wilding JPH et al. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide (STEP 1 extension). Diabetes Obes Metab 2022
- Aronne LJ et al. Continued Treatment With Tirzepatide for Maintenance of Weight Reduction (SURMOUNT-4). JAMA 2024
- PBS, restriction changes to type 2 diabetes mellitus medicines, effective 1 June 2024
- PBS, fees, patient contributions and safety net thresholds, from 1 January 2026
- PBS, Obesity treatments public summary document, November 2025 PBAC meeting (March 2025 letters; private-market volumes)
- PBAC outcomes, March 2026 meeting (tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes)
- Eli Lilly Australia, No PBS listing for Mounjaro in type 2 diabetes, 24 April 2026
- ABC News, Eli Lilly CEO still wants deal to bring Mounjaro to Australia under PBS, 12 August 2026
- Healthdirect, Ozempic (PBS verified 1 October 2026)
- Healthdirect, Mounjaro
- Healthdirect, Weight loss medicine
- TGA, Advertising Ozempic and GLP-1 receptor agonists is prohibited, 30 November 2022
- TGA, New diabetes and weight loss medicines (safety alert), 3 June 2025
- TGA, Ozempic registration record, chronic kidney disease indication, 18 August 2025
- TGA, Mounjaro registration records: type 2 diabetes (23 December 2022), chronic weight management (10 September 2024), obstructive sleep apnoea (2 June 2025)
- TGA ARTG search, Ozempic entries, read 6 October 2026
- TGA Medicine Shortage Reports Database, semaglutide
- TGA Medicine Shortage Reports Database, all shortages and discontinuations, read 9 November 2026
- Novo Nordisk Australia, product update notifications (Ozempic removed from shortage list 18 July 2025)
- Diabetes Australia, Ozempic supply returning to normal in Australia, 23 July 2025
- PBS Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee, semaglutide public release document, June 2024
- TGA, GLP-1 RAs and rare vision disorder (NAION), 23 July 2026
- TGA, Updated contraception advice for Mounjaro (tirzepatide), 1 December 2025
- TGA, Update on GLP-1 RA pharmacy compounding changes, 18 June 2024
- TGA, Counterfeit weight loss products claiming to contain GLP-1, 2 March 2026
- Australian Prescriber, Injectable drugs for weight management, 9 December 2025
- AJGP, Pharmacotherapy for the management of overweight and obesity, April 2025
- The Pharmaceutical Journal, Switching between weight-loss medications, 2025
- University of Sydney, Ozempic isn't approved for weight loss in Australia. So how are people accessing it? (quoting TGA statements on off-label prescribing), 4 April 2024
- Pharmacy Daily, Mounjaro price drop for patients, 2 December 2024
- AJP, Mounjaro KwikPen transition complete, 30 June 2025
- Chemist Warehouse, Ozempic 1.34 mg/mL 3 mL pre-filled pen, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Warehouse, Ozempic 1.34 mg/mL 1.5 mL pre-filled pen, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Warehouse, Mounjaro KwikPen 5 mg, read 9 November 2026 (2.5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 mg pages read the same day)
- Your Discount Chemist, Ozempic 1 mg 3 mL pen, read 9 November 2026
- Your Discount Chemist, Ozempic 0.25/0.5 mg 3 mL pen, read 9 November 2026
- Your Discount Chemist, Mounjaro listings, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Outlet, Ozempic 1 mg 3 mL pen, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Outlet, Ozempic 0.25/0.5 mg 3 mL pen, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Outlet, Mounjaro 5 mg KwikPen, read 9 November 2026 (10 mg and 15 mg pages read the same day)
- Your Discount Chemist, NovoFine pen needle 32G x 4 mm 100 pack, read 9 November 2026
- Cleanbill 2026 Blue Report, 11 January 2026
- Juniper pricing and programs, read 6 October 2026
- Hims Australia, How much does Hims cost, read 6 October 2026
- InstantScripts pricing, read 6 October 2026
- Moshy weight loss, read 6 October 2026
- Mosh weight loss, read 6 October 2026
- hub.health weight loss program, read 6 October 2026
- HCF, Claiming prescriptions and PBS medications
- Bupa, Pharmacy cover FAQs
- Teachers Health, Medications used for weight loss
- Wegovy Australian Product Information, Novo Nordisk, revised 3 November 2026 (STEP 2 table; combination with other GLP-1 products)
- TGA, GLP-1 RAs: warnings aligned over potential risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviours, 1 December 2025
- TGA ARTG search, tirzepatide entries (18, all Mounjaro, Eli Lilly), read 6 October 2026
- PBAC, advice on equitable access to GLP-1 obesity treatments, updated 17 March 2026 (no tirzepatide submission for obesity)
- PBS, Nurse Practitioner PBS prescribing (nurse practitioners endorsed under state or territory legislation), read 6 October 2026
- Chemist Outlet, Mounjaro 12.5 mg KwikPen, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Outlet, Novofine Plus 32G 4 mm pen needles 100-pack, read 9 November 2026
- PBS Medicine Status, tirzepatide (Mounjaro), March 2026 submission
- PBAC, November 2026 meeting agenda
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Medication Cost CalculatorThis website is for informational and research purposes only.
We are not medical professionals and nothing on this page constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified doctor or specialist before making any decisions about medication.
The weight loss medication landscape in Australia is changing rapidly. Information on this page may become outdated without notice. Last reviewed 9 November 2026.