| Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
Mounjaro vs Welchol
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent.Deep comparison between: Mounjaro vs Welchol with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsWelchol has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Mounjaro based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Welchol but not Mounjaro, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Mounjaro
Welchol
At A Glance
SC injection
Once weekly
GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist
Oral
Daily
Bile acid sequestrant
Indications
- Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
- Familial hyperlipidemia
- Familial hypercholesterolemia - heterozygous
- Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
Dosing
Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent Start at 2.5 mg SC once weekly; increase to 5 mg after 4 weeks; escalate in 2.5 mg increments every >=4 weeks as needed; max 15 mg once weekly in adults and 10 mg once weekly in pediatric patients 10 years of age and older.
Familial hyperlipidemia, Familial hypercholesterolemia - heterozygous 3.75 grams daily; 6 tablets once daily or 3 tablets twice daily with a meal and liquid, or one packet oral suspension once daily with a meal.
Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent 3.75 grams daily; 6 tablets once daily or 3 tablets twice daily with a meal and liquid, or one packet oral suspension once daily with a meal.
Contraindications
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- Known serious hypersensitivity to tirzepatide or any excipient in MOUNJARO
- Serum TG concentrations >500 mg/dL
- History of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis
- History of bowel obstruction
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5%) Nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, dyspepsia, abdominal pain
Serious Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, acute pancreatitis, hypoglycemia (with insulin secretagogues or insulin), hypersensitivity reactions, acute kidney injury due to volume depletion, severe gastrointestinal adverse reactions, diabetic retinopathy complications, acute gallbladder disease, pulmonary aspiration
Postmarketing Anaphylaxis, angioedema, acute pancreatitis, hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis, ileus, intestinal obstruction, severe constipation including fecal impaction, pulmonary aspiration, acute renal failure or worsening of chronic renal failure, alopecia
Most common (>=2%) Constipation, dyspepsia, nausea, asthenia, pharyngitis, myalgia (primary hyperlipidemia); constipation, dyspepsia, nausea, hypertension, back pain (type 2 diabetes)
Serious Hypertriglyceridemia, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal obstruction, vitamin K and fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies
Postmarketing Bowel obstruction, dysphagia, esophageal obstruction, fecal impaction, pancreatitis, hypertriglyceridemia, increased transaminases
Pharmacology
Tirzepatide is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist that selectively binds and activates both receptors, enhancing first- and second-phase insulin secretion and reducing glucagon levels in a glucose-dependent manner, thereby lowering fasting and postprandial glucose, decreasing food intake, and reducing body weight.
Colesevelam hydrochloride is a non-absorbed bile acid sequestrant that binds bile acids in the intestine, depletes the bile acid pool, upregulates hepatic cholesterol 7-alpha-hydroxylase, increases LDL receptor expression, and thereby lowers serum LDL-C; the mechanism by which it improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes is unknown.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Mounjaro
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (12/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (11/12)
Welchol
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Mounjaro
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (8/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (8/8)
Welchol
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Mounjaro
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (1/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Welchol
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
$25/momo
Mounjaro Savings CardCommercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
Final cost depends on formulary coverage
No savings programs available for Welchol.
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MounjaroView full Mounjaro profile
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.