Compare drug alternatives

Mounjaro® Alternatives

Mounjaro®(tirzepatide)
Bydureon BCise®(exenatide)
Prescription Only
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is prescribed for adults with type 2 diabetes to effectively lower blood sugar levels (blood glucose). Administered as a once-weekly injection, Mounjaro is...
Prescription Only
Bydureon BCise injection is used together with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes. This medicine is available by prescription...
Dosage & Administration
Administration
Subcutaneous . Learn more.
Subcutaneous . Learn more.
Dosing
2.5 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly * After 4 weeks, increase to 5 mg injected SC once weekly *Increase the dosage in 2.5 mg increments after at least 4 weeks on the current dose. if needed. * Max dosage is 15 mg weekly.. Learn more.
Administer 2 mg by subcutaneous injection once every seven days (weekly), at any time of day and with or without meals. Administer immediately after the dose is prepared.. Learn more.
Latin Shorthand
Start: 2.5 mg SC weekly Wk 4: Increase to 5 mg SC weekly If more control needed, ↑ by 2.5 mg after ≥4 wks Max: 15 mg SC weekly Weekly dosing, any time, w/wo meals SC injection: abd, thigh, upper arm. Learn more.
2 mg SC q7d any time, with/without meals. Administer immediately after preparation.. Learn more.
Financial Assistance
Out-Of-Pocket Costs With Copay Card
Annual Cap
$1800. Learn more.
$150 per monthly script. Learn more.
Assistance Expiration
12/31/2023. Learn more.
Generics
No lower-cost generic available
No lower-cost generic available
Physician Advisory
Adverse Reactions
The most common adverse reactions, reported in ≥5% of patients treated with MOUNJARO are: nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, dyspepsia, and abdominal pain.. Learn more.
Most common (≥5%) in clinical trials: injection-site nodule, nausea.. Learn more.
Mechanism of Actions (MoA)
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. Learn more.
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. Learn more.
Special Populations
What are the risks associated with MOUNJARO use during pregnancy?

Available data with MOUNJARO use in pregnant women are insufficient to evaluate for a drug-related risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. There are risks to the mother and fetus associated with poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy (see Clinical Considerations). Based on animal reproduction studies, there may be risks to the fetus from exposure to tirzepatide during pregnancy. MOUNJARO should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. In pregnant rats administered tirzepatide during organogenesis, fetal growth reductions and fetal abnormalities occurred at clinical exposure in maternal rats based on AUC. In rabbits administered tirzepatide during organogenesis, fetal growth reductions were observed at clinically relevant exposures based on AUC. These adverse embryo/fetal effects in animals coincided with pharmacological effects on maternal weight and food consumption (see Data). The estimated background risk of major birth defects is 6–10% in women with pre-gestational diabetes with an HbA1c >7% and has been reported to be as high as 20–25% in women with an HbA1c >10%. The estimated background risk of miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2–4% and 15–20%, respectively.

What are the clinical considerations regarding pregnancy and MOUNJARO use?

Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk Poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy increases the maternal risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, pre-eclampsia, spontaneous abortions, preterm delivery and delivery complications. Poorly controlled diabetes increases the fetal risk for major birth defects, stillbirth, and macrosomia-related morbidity.

What animal data is available regarding MOUNJARO use during pregnancy?

In pregnant rats given twice weekly subcutaneous doses of 0.02, 0.1, and 0.5 mg/kg tirzepatide (0.03-, 0.07-, and 0.5-fold the MRHD of 15 mg once weekly based on AUC) during organogenesis, increased incidences of external, visceral, and skeletal malformations, increased incidences of visceral and skeletal developmental variations, and decreased fetal weights coincided with pharmacologically-mediated reductions in maternal body weights and food consumption at 0.5 mg/kg. In pregnant rabbits given once weekly subcutaneous doses of 0.01, 0.03, or 0.1 mg/kg tirzepatide (0.01-, 0.06-, and 0.2-fold the MRHD) during organogenesis, pharmacologically-mediated effects on the gastrointestinal system resulting in maternal mortality or abortion in a few rabbits occurred at all dose levels. Reduced fetal weights associated with decreased maternal food consumption and body weights were observed at 0.1 mg/kg. In a pre- and post-natal study in rats administered subcutaneous doses of 0.02, 0.10, or 0.25 mg/kg tirzepatide twice weekly from implantation through lactation, F1 pups from F0 maternal rats given 0.25 mg/kg tirzepatide had statistically significant lower mean body weight when compared to controls from post-natal day 7 through post-natal day 126 for males and post-natal day 56 for females.

What are the risks associated with MOUNJARO use during lactation?

There are no data on the presence of tirzepatide in animal or human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for MOUNJARO and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from MOUNJARO or from the underlying maternal condition.

How does MOUNJARO use affect oral hormonal contraceptives?

Use of MOUNJARO may reduce the efficacy of oral hormonal contraceptives due to delayed gastric emptying. This delay is largest after the first dose and diminishes over time. Advise patients using oral hormonal contraceptives to switch to a non-oral contraceptive method, or add a barrier method of contraception for 4 weeks after initiation and for 4 weeks after each dose escalation with MOUNJARO.

Is MOUNJARO safe and effective for pediatric patients?

Safety and effectiveness of MOUNJARO have not been established in pediatric patients (younger than 18 years of age).

Are there age-related differences in MOUNJARO use for geriatric patients?

In the pool of seven clinical trials, 1539 (30.1%) MOUNJARO-treated patients were 65 years of age or older, and 212 (4.1%) MOUNJARO-treated patients were 75 years of age or older at baseline. No overall differences in safety or efficacy were detected between these patients and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.

Is dosage adjustment necessary for patients with renal impairment using MOUNJARO?

No dosage adjustment of MOUNJARO is recommended for patients with renal impairment. In subjects with renal impairment including end-stage renal disease (ESRD), no change in tirzepatide pharmacokinetics (PK) was observed [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. Monitor renal function when initiating or escalating doses of MOUNJARO in patients with renal impairment reporting severe adverse gastrointestinal reactions.

Is dosage adjustment necessary for patients with hepatic impairment using MOUNJARO?

No dosage adjustment of MOUNJARO is recommended for patients with hepatic impairment. In a clinical pharmacology study in subjects with varying degrees of hepatic impairment, no change in tirzepatide PK was observed.

What is the risk of using BYDUREON BCISE during pregnancy?

Limited data with exenatide, the active ingredient in BYDUREON BCISE, in pregnant women are not sufficient to determine a drug-associated risk for major birth defects or miscarriage. There are risks to the mother and fetus associated with poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy. Based on animal reproduction studies, there may be risks to the fetus from exposure to BYDUREON BCISE during pregnancy. BYDUREON BCISE should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

What were the findings of animal reproduction studies with exenatide during pregnancy?

Animal reproduction studies identified increased adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes from exposure to exenatide extended-release during pregnancy or from exposure to exenatide during pregnancy and lactation, in association with maternal effects. In rats, exenatide extended-release, administered during the period of organogenesis, reduced fetal growth and produced skeletal ossification deficits at doses that approximate clinical exposures at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 2 mg/week. In mice, exenatide administered during gestation and lactation, caused increased neonatal deaths at doses that approximate clinical exposures at the MRHD.

What is the estimated background risk of birth defects and miscarriage in women with diabetes?

The estimated background risk of major birth defects is 6-10% in women with pre-gestational diabetes with an HbA1c >7 and has been reported to be as high as 20-25% in women with HbA1c >10. The estimated background risk of miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.

What maternal and fetal risks are associated with poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy?

Poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy increases the maternal risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, preeclampsia, spontaneous abortions, preterm delivery and delivery complications. Poorly controlled diabetes increases the fetal risk for major birth defects, stillbirth, and macrosomia-related morbidity.

What is the risk of using BYDUREON BCISE during lactation?

There is no information regarding the presence of exenatide, in human milk, the effects of exenatide on the breastfed infant, or the effects of exenatide on milk production. Exenatide, the active ingredient in BYDUREON BCISE was present in the milk of lactating mice. However, due to species-specific differences in lactation physiology, the clinical relevance of these data is not clear.

What is the recommended use of BYDUREON BCISE in pediatric patients?

The safety and effectiveness of BYDUREON BCISE as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus have been established in pediatric patients aged 10 years and older. Use of BYDUREON BCISE for this indication is supported by clinical studies. Safety and effectiveness of BYDUREON BCISE have not been established in pediatric patients less than 10 years of age.

What are the considerations for using BYDUREON BCISE in geriatric patients?

In two comparator-controlled trials, BYDUREON BCISE was studied in older patients, with no meaningful differences in safety and effectiveness observed between patients ≥65 years of age and younger adults. However, caution is advised when initiating BYDUREON BCISE in geriatric patients due to potential decreased kidney function.

How does renal impairment affect the use of BYDUREON BCISE?

Pharmacokinetic studies indicate an increase in exenatide exposure in patients with mild and moderate renal impairment compared to those with normal kidney function. BYDUREON BCISE may induce adverse reactions leading to hypovolemia in patients with renal impairment. It is not recommended for use in patients with eGFR below 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 or end-stage renal disease.