How to get tirzepatide online and in person

Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in the brand-name drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro, which are indicated for weight loss and obstructive sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes, respectively. As a prescription medication, you can only get tirzepatide if you have an Rx from a licensed healthcare provider. This is something you can do online or in person—the choice is largely up to you and the processes are pretty similar.

Below, we explain how to get tirzepatide, including who qualifies for the medication and what you can expect in terms of insurance coverage and costs. 

Qualification or eligibility for tirzepatide generally depends on the specific drug and its uses or indications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Of course, healthcare providers may consider prescribing off-label medication if they believe it’s the best fit for a patient and their health goals. 

Tirzepatide is currently available under two brand names: Zepbound, which is indicated for obesity and overweight as well as obstructive sleep apnea, and Mounjaro, which is indicated for type 2 diabetes but can be prescribed off-label for weight loss. 

Below, we review the FDA-approved indications for both forms of tirzepatide and explain who qualifies for Zepbound vs. Mounjaro. 

Who qualifies for Zepbound?

Zepbound is FDA-approved to reduce body weight and maintain weight loss in adults with obesity or with overweight and a weight-related health condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. It’s also FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity. The medication should be used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Who qualifies for Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It does not treat type 1 diabetes, only type 2. Like Zepbound, it should be used in combination with lifestyle changes, such as diet (typically, a low-calorie one) and exercise.

Who shouldn’t take tirzepatide?

As with any other medication, tirzepatide isn’t necessarily a fit—or even safe—for everyone. 

People who should not take tirzepatide include those who: 

• Are pregnant 

• Have a personal or family history of certain thyroid cancers, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2) 

Some individuals may be more likely to experience serious side effects on tirzepatide, such as low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you take insulin or if you have severe gastrointestinal disease, diabetic retinopathy, or kidney or gallbladder problems. With this information, your provider can best assess whether tirzepatide is still the best choice for you or if another medication would be a better option.

People who take oral contraceptives for birth control or insulin for diabetes may need to adjust their dosage or temporarily switch to another medication while taking tirzepatide. Tirzepatide’s effects on gastric emptying can affect the body’s absorption of other oral medications. For those taking birth control pills, healthcare providers may recommend switching to another non-oral form of birth control (e.g. IUDs) or using a barrier-based method of contraception (e.g. condoms) when starting tirzepatide and increasing your dose. 

As for insulin? Both insulin and tirzepatide lower blood sugar levels, so taking them together can increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in people with type 2 diabetes. Your healthcare provider may recommend dosage adjustments of your insulin or other diabetes medications (e.g. sulfonylureas) while using tirzepatide.

The process for getting tirzepatide is similar to getting other prescription medications. First, you need to schedule an appointment with a licensed healthcare provider in-person or online, and then discuss your health goals when you meet with them. With an online appointment, you may complete a health questionnaire beforehand for the provider to review prior to meeting with you virtually. Then, during your telehealth visit, you’ll talk about your symptoms and medical history, similar to meeting with a provider in person.

The main difference comes down to what you are taking tirzepatide for, as that will dictate, if appropriate, which brand name you get a prescription for: Mounjaro or Zepbound. If you want to get tirzepatide to treat your type 2 diabetes, your healthcare provider will likely recommend Mounjaro (if they determine the drug is necessary). But before they do that, they’ll want to understand more about the medications and/or lifestyle changes you’ve taken in the past to treat your type 2 diabetes and to what extent these measures have been successful in managing your blood sugar levels. 

If you want to get tirzepatide for weight loss or sleep apnea, your healthcare provider will likely prescribe Zepbound—that is, of course, if they determine medication is necessary and a fit for you. Before this, however, they’ll likely want to know more about your goal weight and your weight loss in the past, be it a specific diet, exercise routine, surgery, or medication. 

With either form of tirzepatide, your healthcare provider may order lab testing before writing a prescription. And once they send you home with an Rx, they’ll want to continue monitoring you to ensure the medication is working and to issue updated prescriptions as they titrate your dose. 

Tirzepatide follows a dose titration schedule, where you begin at a low starting dose of the medication (usually 2.5 mg weekly) and increase every four weeks until you reach a dose of tirzepatide that’s working safely and effectively for you. This dose will be your maintenance dose moving forward. The recommended maintenance dosage ranges from 5 mg to 15 mg weekly, depending on the condition being treated. 

Do you need a prescription for tirzepatide?

Yes. Since tirzepatide is only available as a prescription medication, you’ll need to meet with a licensed healthcare provider to get an Rx. Providers who can prescribe tirzepatide include:

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), such as your primary care provider (PCP), an endocrinologist, or another provider who specializes in weight loss

• Nurse practitioner (NP)

• Physician assistant (PA)

How to get tirzepatide online

Thanks to the advent of telehealth, you can now consult a healthcare practitioner and get and fill a prescription—including one for tirzepatide—from the comfort of your couch. Here’s how to get tirzepatide online: 

Find an online provider. Look for an online provider who offers virtual consultations and can prescribe GLP-1 medications like tirzepatide. You can start by asking your current PCP if they offer virtual appointments, explore other trusted telehealth platforms, or contact your insurance company to find out if they cover telehealth services. 

Another option is to utilize an online weight loss program, such as the Ro Body membership. With Ro, you fill out a brief online form with your health history and, if applicable, weight loss goals. Then, a Ro-affiliated provider reviews your answers and gets back to you to schedule an online consultation and potentially order a metabolic lab test to aid in diagnosis. 

Meet with a provider. During your virtual appointment, your healthcare provider will likely ask you about your weight loss goals, current medications, and relevant medical history to determine if tirzepatide is a suitable option for you. They may also request additional lab work to get a clearer picture of your health. If your provider determines you’re a good fit for tirzepatide—be it Mounjaro or Zepbound (the latter of which you can get through Ro)—they’ll write you an Rx. 

Figure out insurance coverage.  Not all health plans cover tirzepatide, and some may only cover Mounjaro. For instance, Medicare does not cover weight loss drugs like Zepbound. When plans do cover tirzepatide, they typically require prior authorization first. If you get tirzepatide through Ro, their insurance concierge will work with your insurance to help get the cost of the drug covered. If you get tirzepatide elsewhere, you’ll want to call your insurance plan directly to find out if tirzepatide is covered, what’s required for coverage (e.g. prior authorization), and your expected copay. You can also review your plan’s drug formulary to see a list of all covered drugs or use tools, such as Ro’s free and accessible to all (read: not just to current patients) GLP-1 Insurance Coverage Checker.

Fill your prescription. Once you have your Rx, you can fill it at your local pharmacy or through an online pharmacy—whichever is more convenient for you! 

If you go with an online option, take a moment to confirm that the pharmacy you’re considering is reputable and licensed. You can do this by confirming that they are accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) or that they have a current license with your state board of pharmacy, which you can find out by using the FDA’s BeSafeRx tool. Filling your prescription of tirzepatide through a verified, licensed online pharmacy ensures you’re getting genuine tirzepatide through a pharmacy that meets US safety standards.

How to get tirzepatide in person 

If you want to get tirzepatide in person, here’s how to do it.

Find a provider. To get tirzepatide in person, you can schedule an appointment with your PCP or another licensed healthcare provider. Come prepared to share your full personal and family medical history, and bring a list of all the medications and supplements you are currently taking. 

Meet with a provider. During your appointment, your healthcare provider will likely ask questions to determine whether tirzepatide is the best treatment option for you. For example:

• If you are interested in tirzepatide for weight loss, how has your experience been with trying to lose weight in the past, such as through diet, exercise, or other medication? What are your weight loss goals?

• If you are interested in tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes, how are you currently managing your blood sugar levels?

• If you are interested in tirzepatide for sleep apnea, how are you currently managing the condition?

• Do you take any diabetes medications, including insulin or sulfonylureas?

• Do you take oral contraceptives for birth control?

• Do you take any other prescription medications, over-the-counter supplements, vitamins, or herbs?

• Are you currently pregnant or breastfeeding, or do you plan to be soon?

• Do you have any current medical conditions, including heart disease, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol?

• Have you had diabetic retinopathy or any problems with your pancreas, kidneys, stomach, or gallbladder?

• Are you scheduled to have surgery or undergo anesthesia?

Your healthcare provider may also perform a physical exam or order lab tests to aid in diagnosis. If they determine tirzepatide is the right treatment for you, they’ll give you a prescription, which you can then fill online or at your local pharmacy.

Figure out insurance coverage.  As mentioned above, tirzepatide isn’t necessarily covered by all health plans. To find out if tirzepatide is covered by your plan, contact your insurance plan directly. Ask them which brand name of the drug, if any, is covered, if prior authorization is needed, and what to expect for your copay amount. Just like with getting tirzepatide in person, you can also review your plan’s drug formulary or use certain tools (e.g. Ro’s GLP-1 Insurance Coverage Checker) to determine coverage, if any. 

Fill your prescription. When it comes to filling an Rx you received in person, you can typically do it at your local pharmacy or online. See the same step above for more details. 

Insurance coverage of tirzepatide depends on the brand name, prescribed purpose, and the details of your specific insurance plan. In general, insurance plans usually only cover medications when they are prescribed for their FDA-approved indication. In the case of Mounjaro, this is diabetes management, and in the case of Zepbound, it’s weight loss, weight management, or sleep apnea.

However, even if you are taking tirzepatide for a FDA-approved indication, there’s still no guarantee that it will be covered by your insurance. The best way to check if your insurance plan covers tirzepatide is to contact your insurance company directly. When tirzepatide is covered, prior authorization may be required. This means your healthcare provider will have to submit paperwork to your insurance company verifying that Mounjaro or Zepbound is a medically necessary treatment for you.

As for state and federal insurance plans, Medicare cannot cover the cost of weight loss injections like Zepbound under federal law. Mounjaro is more likely to be covered if prescribed for type 2 diabetes, but you’ll want to review your plan’s drug formulary to be sure. Medicaid coverage of tirzepatide varies by state, as states get to decide which drugs to include in their Medicaid programs. 

So, if your insurance doesn’t cover tirzepatide, how much can you expect to pay? Being that there isn’t a generic version of the drug (at least not yet), tirzepatide isn’t cheap, especially if you end up paying out-of-pocket.

Here are the list prices for a 28-day supply of each of the brand-name versions of tirzepatide (i.e. four prescription pens, each pre-filled with a single dose of the drug): 

• Zepbound: $1,086.37/month  

• Mounjaro: $1,79.77/month

The price you pay for tirzepatide at the pharmacy may be more or less, depending on your insurance coverage, the pharmacy used, your location, and any discounts, coupons, or savings cards.  

Here’s a quick look at how much four prefilled pens of tirzepatide (2.5 mg/0.5 mL) at different pharmacies, according to GoodRx:

*While prices were valid at the time of publication, they may vary based on date and location. For the most accurate estimates, refresh the GoodRx searches and enter your zip code.

The cost of tirzepatide can also vary based on the prescribed form of the drug. Certain doses of Zepbound, for example, are also available in single-dose vials. These can be purchased with cash through Ro or LillyDirect, the manufacturer’s self-pay pharmacy. 

Here are the cash prices for a four-week supply of Zepbound single-dose vials:

• 2.5 mg dose: $399/month

• 5 mg dose: $549/month 

Tirzepatide savings cards from Eli Lilly

Eli Lilly runs savings card programs for both forms of tirzepatide. 

• Zepbound Savings Card: This lowers the price of a one-month supply of Zepbound to $25 for people with commercial drug insurance that includes coverage for Zepbound. For those with a commercial drug insurance plan that doesn’t include coverage for Zepbound, the offer lowers the price of a one-month supply to $650.

• Mounjaro Savings Card: This also lowers the price of a one-month supply of tirzepatide to $25, but eligibility is limited to people who have a commercial drug insurance plan with coverage for Mounjaro. 

Both tirzepatide savings cards can only be used by people with commercial drug insurance, such as an insurance plan through their employer. Those with state-, federal-, or government-funded insurance, such as Medicaid, Medicare, or VA Benefits, are not eligible for either manufacturer offering. 

Tirzepatide pharmacy coupons

You can also save on the price of tirzepatide by using a pharmacy-specific discount card. Several websites offer these pharmacy coupons, including GoodRx, Drugs.com, Optum Perks, SingleCare, and WellRx. To access the tirzepatide coupon, visit the website, search for your dosage of tirzepatide, and select the Zepbound or Mounjaro coupon for your pharmacy. Then you can print, email, or text the Mounjaro or Zepbound coupon to show your pharmacist when you go to pick up your prescription.

Tirzepatide is exclusively available as a prescription medication. If you want to get tirzepatide, whether for weight loss, sleep apnea, or type 2 diabetes, your first step is making an appointment with a licensed healthcare provider.  Here are the other key points to keep in mind about getting a tirzepatide prescription:

• You’ll need to meet certain criteria to qualify for tirzepatide. Mounjaro is FDA-approved for people with type 2 diabetes, while Zepbound is FDA-approved for weight loss in people with obesity or overweight and a weight-related health condition. Zepbound is also approved to treat obstructive sleep apnea in people with obesity.

• You can meet with a healthcare provider online or in person. During your appointment, your healthcare provider will ask questions about your medical history and other medications you are taking to ensure tirzepatide is the best treatment option for you.

• Insurance coverage of tirzepatide can vary. When insurance plans do cover Zepbound or Mounjaro, prior authorization is usually required. 

• Coupons and pharmacy discounts are available. Eli Lilly runs official Savings Cards programs for both Zepbound and Mounjaro. If you don’t qualify for those, you can still save on the cost of tirzepatide by using a drug discount card.

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How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Editorial Guidelines | Medical Review Process

Current version

February 04, 2025

Written by

Amelia Willson

Fact checked by

Beverly Tchang, MD and Patricia Weiser, PharmD

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About the medical reviewers

Beverly Tchang, MD, DABOM

Beverly Tchang, MD, DABOM, is an Obesity Medicine Advisor for Ro. She is also an assistant professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York and triple board-certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, and Obesity Medicine.

Patricia Weiser, PharmD

Patricia Weiser, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist, health content writer, and medical reviewer with more than a decade of clinical experience in community and hospital pharmacy.