Tirzepatide is a once-weekly injected GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist sold by Eli Lilly as Zepbound (weight management, sleep apnea) and Mounjaro (type 2 diabetes).
Zepbound or Mounjaro: which label fits you
The two brands contain the same drug but carry different approvals. Zepbound is approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition, and for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea with obesity [5]. Mounjaro is approved for blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes and to reduce major cardiovascular events in high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes [6].
In a city where 11.9% of adults report diagnosed diabetes [7], and 16.1% in the Bronx [2], this split decides whether insurance is likely to pay. Weight-only use usually means Zepbound and cash. Our Mounjaro vs Zepbound comparison covers the details.
Sponsored placement: open.
One local practice can be featured here. This is a paid, labeled placement and never an endorsement.
Feature your practice in New York City, from $300 a month.
Sponsored slots are labeled and paid for. A clinic in this slot has not been endorsed or ranked by us.
What tirzepatide costs from New York
| Option | Price | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zepbound 2.5 mg, LillyDirect self-pay | $299/month | Oct 17 2026 | [1] |
| Zepbound 5 mg | $399/month | Oct 17 2026 | [1] |
| Zepbound 7.5 to 15 mg, refilled within 45 days | $449/month | Oct 17 2026 | [1] |
| Zepbound 10 to 15 mg, outside the 45-day window | $699/month | Oct 17 2026 | [1] |
| Mounjaro list price, 28-day supply | $1,112.16 | Oct 17 2026 | [8] |
LillyDirect ships to the home or lets you pick up at a Walmart Pharmacy at no extra charge [1]. Commercially insured patients whose plan covers Zepbound may pay as little as $25 with the savings card, which ends Dec 31 2026 [9].
Getting a prescription in the five boroughs
- See a primary care doctor, an endocrinologist or a hospital weight program. Weill Cornell's Comprehensive Weight Control Center lists medications among its services [10].
- Or use an online prescriber licensed in New York. Our online tirzepatide guide compares them.
- Confirm the prescriber's license on the New York State Education Department site [4].
- Ask the prescriber to send the prescription to LillyDirect Pharmacy if you plan to self-pay [1].
Trial averages in brief
Two numbers summarize the main trials. At 72 weeks, SURMOUNT-1 adults without diabetes on 15 mg were down 20.9% of body weight on average, with placebo at 3.1% [11]. When SURMOUNT-4 moved people to placebo after 36 weeks, they had regained 14.0% of body weight on average by week 88 [12]. No New Yorker should read either as a personal forecast; see tirzepatide results.
Label warnings
Tirzepatide carries a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors and is not for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2. Stop and seek care for severe stomach pain that does not go away (possible pancreatitis). Low blood sugar is more likely with insulin or a sulfonylurea [13]. Call 911 in an emergency.
Compounded tirzepatide has no FDA approval, and FDA does not check it for quality, safety or effectiveness [14]; read our compounded tirzepatide explainer first. Other city guides: Chicago, Atlanta, Indianapolis. In the city, New York weight loss options covers clinic programs.
Questions people ask
Does Zepbound cost more in Manhattan than elsewhere?
No. LillyDirect's self-pay price is national: $299 for 2.5 mg, $399 for 5 mg and $449 for 7.5 to 15 mg with a refill inside 45 days, as of Oct 17 2026 [1].
Which borough has the highest diabetes rate?
The Bronx, where CDC PLACES estimates 16.1% of adults had diagnosed diabetes in 2023, followed by Queens at 14.3% [2].
Do NYC hospitals run weight programs that prescribe medication?
Weill Cornell's Comprehensive Weight Control Center on the Upper East Side lists medications among its services [10].
Where do I check a New York prescriber's license?
The New York State Education Department Office of the Professions offers a physician license lookup [4].
Can New Yorkers collect a LillyDirect order in person?
Yes. LillyDirect self-pay orders can be picked up free at a Walmart Pharmacy, or shipped to your home [1].
Can a New York pharmacy compound tirzepatide?
How many people live in New York City?
The Census Bureau estimated 8,584,629 residents on July 1 2025 [3].
Sources
15 cited
- Zepbound self-pay pricing. Eli Lilly and Company (LillyDirect), Oct 17, 2026.
- PLACES: County Data, New York City boroughs (2025 release, BRFSS 2023). CDC, 2023.
- QuickFacts: New York city, New York. U.S. Census Bureau, 2025.
- Office of the Professions: Medicine. New York State Education Department, Oct 17, 2026.
- Zepbound label. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, Aug 2026.
- Mounjaro label. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, Aug 2026.
- PLACES: Place Data, New York city (2025 release, BRFSS 2023). CDC, 2023.
- Mounjaro FAQ. Eli Lilly and Company, Oct 17, 2026.
- Zepbound coverage and savings. Eli Lilly and Company, Oct 17, 2026.
- Comprehensive Weight Control Center. Weill Cornell Medicine, Oct 17, 2026.
- Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-1). New England Journal of Medicine (PubMed), Jun 4, 2022.
- Continued Treatment With Tirzepatide for Maintenance of Weight Reduction (SURMOUNT-4). JAMA (PubMed), Jan 1, 2024.
- Zepbound prescribing information (217806s050). U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Apr 2026.
- FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Oct 1, 2026.
- FDA clarifies policies for compounders as national GLP-1 supply begins to stabilize. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Apr 1, 2026.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own care.