- In-person
- How to get Zepbound online
- Using LillyDirect
- Comparing retailers
- Cost
- Who is it for?
- How does it work?
- Effectiveness
- Dosage
- Side effects
- FAQ
- Summary
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Zepbound (tirzepatide) is only available on prescription for people with obesity or those with overweight and a weight-related condition. Learn how to get Zepbound online, in-person, and through the drug’s manufacturer, Eli Lilly, directly.
Zepbound is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drug. You inject the drug into your stomach, thigh, or upper arm.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source approved Zepbound for weight loss in November 2023, making it a suitable alternative to Wegovy and Mounjaro.
You can get Zepbound through in-person doctor appointments, telehealth providers, and the manufacturer’s online pharmacy, LillyDirect.
A quick look at the best ways to get Zepbound
- In-person
- Ro Body | ongoing support, insurance concierge to help with coverage | Skip to review
- Plushcare | offers insured and uninsured membership | Skip to review
- Noom Med | lifestyle and behavioral support | Skip to review
- LillyDirect | direct from the manufacturer’s pharmacy | Skip to review
How to get Zepbound in person
You can get Zepbound by going to a healthcare professional in person. While getting Zepbound online may be more convenient than visiting a local clinic or surgery, both options require a valid prescription before you can buy Zepbound at your chosen pharmacy.
At an in-person appointment, a doctor will assess your current health, weight-loss goals, and eligibility for the drug. They may prescribe it only if they think it is safe and medically necessary. A doctor may also discuss alternatives to Zepbound.
Once you have a prescription for the drug, you can pick it up at your preferred pharmacy.
Zepbound shortage
As of November 2024, the FDA has stated that the tirzepatide shortage is currently resolved.
When a GLP-1 drug is in shortage, it may be harder to get due to ongoing stock issues. As a result, healthcare professionals may prescribe another GLP-1 medication that works in a similar way to encourage weight loss.
Although all Zepbound doses are currently available, individual pharmacy stock levels may vary.
How to get Zepbound online
You still need a prescription to get Zepbound online. You also need to avoid buying the drug from companies that do not require a health consultation with a qualified medical professional before offering a prescription.
Additionally, it is important to note that the FDATrusted Source does not approve compounded versions of GLP-1 drugs, which some telehealth companies will offer. In fact, the FDA does not recommend using compounded GLP-1 drugs due to safety concerns.
Ro Body for Zepbound
- Accepts insurance: yes
- Consultation fee: $99
- Subscription fee: $145 per month
- Available medications: Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound
- Other available resources: health coaching, weight loss program
GET STARTED WITH RO
MNT’s review
Ro is a telehealth company. To get Zepbound from Ro, you must join the company’s Body Program. This program offers prescription weight loss drugs, coaching and ongoing support, and an insurance concierge to help you get the best price possible for your medication.
It costs $99 to sign up and then $145 per month for ongoing care. This subscription cost does not include the cost of Zepbound, and Ro states that the cost will vary depending on your insurance coverage. If you pay out of pocket, Zepbound can cost around $1,000 per month.
After signing up, you must complete an online health survey and have an appointment with one of Ro’s affiliated healthcare professionals. If they feel the program is suitable for you, they will arrange a metabolic lab test at a local test center.
After this test, you can get a Zepbound prescription if the healthcare professional thinks it is appropriate. Ro states that this whole process can take a week.
Product details
PlushCare for Zepbound
- Accepts insurance: yes
- Consultation fee: insurance copay or $129 for first visit without insurance
- Subscription fee: $19.99 per month
GET STARTED WITH PLUSHCARE
MNT’s review
PlushCare is another telehealth company that offers Zepbound.
To get Zepbound, you must book an online appointment with a PlushCare doctor to discuss your health, weight loss goals, and reasons for choosing it. The doctor may order lab tests and arrange a second appointment to discuss your results. Then, the doctor will write a prescription for Zepbound if they think it is appropriate.
You can then pick up your medication at a local pharmacy.
If you are interested in using PlushCare, you must sign up for a subscription. Although the first month is free, the costs are as follows:
- With insurance: $19.99 per month, copay for appointments
- Without insurance: $19.99 per month, $129 for appointments
These prices do not include the cost of Zepbound, and PlushCare states that the drug can cost $1,060 per month without insurance and that the price may vary by pharmacy.
You can also use the company’s Prescription Discount Card, which may save you 7% to 20% on GLP-1 medication.
Product details
Noom Med for Ozempic
- Accepts insurance: no, but some employee benefits packages may provide coverage
- Consultation fee: $0
- Subscription fee: $69 for your first month, plus $99 per month going forward
- Available medications: Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, Mounjaro
- Other available resources: health coaching, comprehensive weight loss curriculum, food tracking app
Use code “BLACKFRIDAY25” for 25% off
GET STARTED WITH NOOM
MNT’s review
Noom Med is another way to get a prescription for Zepbound.
This option is only available for people who already subscribe to Noom Weight, a service that aims to provide a more holistic approach to weight management. You will receive a combination of medication, meal plans, and behavioral tips to help you reach your goal weight.
You will only be eligible for Noom Med if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher or a BMI of 27 and higher with a weight-related condition.
Healthcare professionals will perform a health evaluation and any required lab work before discussing medication options.
Product details
How to get Zepbound through LillyDirect
In August 2024, Eli Lilly announced that Zepbound would be available on its online pharmacy, LillyDirect, providing a new Zepbound self-pay option. The Zepbound LillyDirect offers comes in a single-dose vial rather than as an auto-injector pen, also called a Zepbound pen. The vial doses available are 2.5 mg and 5 mg, which is limited compared to the six Zepbound pen doses.
Single-dose vials may be less convenient than an auto-injector pen. However, older research comparing the two suggests that people found both methods of drug administration easy to manage.
Eli Lilly also states that vial forms are cheaper than the auto-injector pre-filled pens. It also means you will be better protected against buying counterfeit or compounded Zepbound.
Zepbound in vial form can cost 50% less than auto-injector options and is equal to the savings people without insurance can get with its savings program. According to Eli Lilly:
- a 4-week supply of a single-dose 2.5 mg Zepbound vial costs $99.75 per vial ($399 in total)
- a 4-week supply of a 5 mg dose costs $137.25 per vial ($549 in total)
Zepbound is available for people without insurance through LillyDirect. You must have a Zepbound prescription to use LillyDirect, but the online pharmacy has also partnered with Healthgrades to help you find a suitable healthcare professional to discuss this with.
It does not provide Zepbound for people whose doctors have prescribed it off-label. Off-label means that a doctor prescribes a medication for a reason or at a dose the FDA has not approved.
Learn more about how to get Zepbound from LillyDirect on the company’s website.
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Comparing Zepbound providers
The following table compares the online pharmacy providers we have discussed.
| Program cost | Other resources | Accepts insurance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ro Body | • consultation: $99 • subscription: $145 per month | • health coaching • weight-loss program | yes |
| Plushcare | • consultation: copay or $129 • subscription: $16.99 per month | • unlimited messaging • discounts on lab tests | yes |
| Noom Med | • consultation: $0 • subscription: $91 per month | • health coaching • weight-loss program • food tracking app | no |
| LillyDirect | • from $399 for a 4-week supply of vials | • find a doctor technology • medication delivery | no |
Zepbound cost
Costs for Zepbound will vary depending on your health insurance and eligibility for certain savings schemes. Zepbound’s list price is $1,059.87 for a 1-month supply, but Lilly states that this does not reflect the price most people will pay for the drug.
Zepbound vials will be cheaper than Zepbound auto-injector pens, although only two doses are available. You can get Zepbound vials from LillyDirect.
We summarize the approximate costs in the table below.
| Insurance coverage | Cost |
|---|---|
| without insurance | around $1,000 for auto-injector pens from $399 for single-dose vials |
| commercial insurance with Zepbound coverage | $25 for a 1- or 3-month supply with a Zepbound Savings Card |
| commercial insurance without Zepbound coverage | $550 for a 1-month supply |
How to get Zepbound for $25
To be eligible for the Zepbound Savings Card, you must:
- have a valid prescription for Zepbound with FDA-approved product labeling
- have coverage from a commercial drug insurance plan
- not have enrollment in any state, federal, or government-funded healthcare program, including Medicare and Medicaid
- be a resident of the United States or Puerto Rico
- be at least 18 years old
Who is Zepbound for?
Zepbound is for people who have:
- obesity — a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more
- overweight — a BMI of 27 or more — and at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol
How does Zepbound work?
Zepbound mimics the GIP and GLP-1 hormones that your stomach releases when you eat. These hormones can slow down
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