Without insurance, Zepbound (tirzepatide) costs $299 for the 2.5 mg starting dose, $399 for 5 mg, and $449 for 7.5 mg to 15 mg for a four-week supply bought self-pay from LillyDirect, Eli Lilly’s own pharmacy service. Those prices apply to the single-dose vials and the KwikPen. The $449 price at the higher doses depends on refilling within 45 days; miss that and it becomes $499 for 7.5 mg and $699 for 10 mg to 15 mg (LillyDirect, checked October 18, 2026).
That is the headline. What it costs you over a year depends on your dose, your device, and a few details in the fine print.
Self-pay prices by dose
| Dose (weekly) | Self-pay price per 4 weeks | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg | $299 | starting dose only |
| 5 mg | $399 | |
| 7.5 mg | $449 | refill within 45 days, otherwise $499 |
| 10 mg | $449 | refill within 45 days, otherwise $699 |
| 12.5 mg | $449 | refill within 45 days, otherwise $699 |
| 15 mg | $449 | refill within 45 days, otherwise $699 |
Prices from LillyDirect, checked October 18, 2026. Lilly can change them, and taxes or fees may be added at checkout.
The fine print that changes the total
A “month” is 28 days. LillyDirect defines a month as 28 days: four single-dose vials, or one KwikPen with four doses. At one fill every four weeks, a year is 13 fills, not 12.
Needles are extra. The vials need syringes and needles, and the KwikPen needs pen needles; LillyDirect says both are a separate purchase.
2.5 mg is not a long-term dose. The label says the 2.5 mg dose “is for treatment initiation and is not approved as a maintenance dosage.” The recommended maintenance doses for weight are 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg a week, so the $299 price usually lasts four weeks.
The single-dose autoinjector pen has no self-pay price. It is sold through insurance. If your commercial plan covers it, Lilly’s savings card can bring a fill down to as little as $25 (Zepbound savings terms). How that request works, and what to do after a denial, is in does insurance cover Zepbound?.
What a year costs
Assuming one fill every four weeks, the label’s dose steps (2.5 mg for four weeks, then up in 2.5 mg steps no faster than every four weeks), and every refill made within 45 days:
| Situation | Year one, roughly | Each year after |
|---|---|---|
| Staying at 5 mg | $5,087 | $5,187 |
| Moving up to 10 mg or 15 mg | $5,637 | $5,837 |
| 10 mg to 15 mg, refilling outside the 45-day window | $9,087 |
These totals leave out needles, syringes, any taxes or fees, and the prescriber’s charge: at Gentle Health that is $28 a month. The first year is a little cheaper only because the starting month is priced lower.
Who can buy at these prices
LillyDirect’s self-pay prices are for people paying cash, with a prescription from any licensed prescriber. Lilly’s savings cards exclude anyone enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid or other government healthcare programs, and they end December 31, 2026. If you are on Medicare, the temporary Medicare GLP-1 Bridge covers the Zepbound KwikPen for weight management with a $50 monthly copay if you meet its eligibility rules; it does not cover the vials or the single-dose pen (CMS).
Getting a Zepbound prescription through Gentle Health
Our doctor prescribes Zepbound, as single-dose vials or the KwikPen, in all 41 jurisdictions where our physician is licensed. You pay us $28/month for the doctor’s care, including messaging and video visits, and you buy the medicine from LillyDirect at the prices above. After the doctor sends the prescription, LillyDirect texts and emails you how to check out. You pay us only once the doctor writes the prescription, there is no minimum, and you can cancel any time.
How compounded tirzepatide compares
Gentle Health also prescribes compounded tirzepatide as a weekly injection. We do not bill insurance, and the price is one all-in monthly amount by dose tier: $169 at the starting tier (2.5–5 mg/wk), $219 at the middle tier (>5–10 mg/wk) and $269 at the high tier (>10–15 mg/wk). That price includes the medication, the injection supplies, physician care, visits, messaging and overnight refrigerated shipping, with no membership fee and no sales tax added. The intake and the doctor’s first review are free.
The two are not the same product. Zepbound is FDA-approved. Compounded tirzepatide is prepared by a state-licensed pharmacy for your individual prescription; compounded medications are not FDA-approved, and compounded tirzepatide is not a generic or an equivalent version of Zepbound. Which fits you is a question for your doctor, and if your insurance covers Zepbound, that route may well cost you less. Why prices for the same medicine vary so much is explained in why GLP-1 prices vary, and the diabetes-labeled version is covered in how much Mounjaro costs without insurance.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Zepbound per month without insurance? On LillyDirect, $299 for 2.5 mg, $399 for 5 mg and $449 for 7.5 mg to 15 mg per four-week supply of vials or KwikPen, as of October 18, 2026. The $449 price requires refilling within 45 days; otherwise 7.5 mg is $499 and 10 mg to 15 mg is $699.
How much does Zepbound cost per year without insurance? Roughly $5,100 to $5,800 a year at LillyDirect self-pay prices, depending on your maintenance dose, if every refill is on time. That is 13 four-week fills and does not include needles or syringes.
Is the Zepbound vial cheaper than the pen? The vial and the KwikPen have the same self-pay prices. The single-dose autoinjector pen has no self-pay price and is sold through insurance.
Can I stay on the $299 dose? No. The label says 2.5 mg is for starting treatment and is not approved as a maintenance dose. Your doctor sets your dose based on your response, not the price.
Can I get a Zepbound prescription online? Yes, from a licensed telehealth prescriber. At Gentle Health our doctor reviews your intake, and if Zepbound is right for you, sends the prescription to LillyDirect. You pay us $28/month for the care and LillyDirect for the medicine.
Can I use the Zepbound savings card on Medicare? No. The card excludes government healthcare programs. Medicare’s GLP-1 Bridge covers the Zepbound KwikPen for eligible patients with a $50 copay.
Dr. James Simmons, MD