Oral Monjaro Tablets Are Not Currently Available
There is no oral formulation of Monjaro (tirzepatide) approved or available—tirzepatide exists only as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection, making direct comparison impossible. 1, 2, 3
Current Tirzepatide Formulation
- Tirzepatide (Monjaro) is FDA-approved exclusively as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection available in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg doses 1, 2, 4
- The medication is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist administered via injection only 1, 3
- All clinical trial data (SURPASS 1-5) evaluated subcutaneous injection formulations, not oral tablets 2, 3, 4
Injectable Tirzepatide Efficacy
Since only injectable tirzepatide exists, here is what the evidence shows for this formulation:
- Glycemic control: HbA1c reductions of 1.87% to 2.59% (20-28 mmol/mol) across SURPASS trials 4
- Weight loss: Body weight reductions of 6.2 to 12.9 kg in clinical studies 3, 4
- Superior to other GLP-1 agonists: In SURPASS-2, tirzepatide demonstrated greater HbA1c reduction and weight loss compared to injectable semaglutide 1 mg 4
- Cardiovascular benefits: Reductions in blood pressure, visceral adiposity, and triglycerides 3, 4
- Safety profile: Well tolerated with low hypoglycemia risk when used without insulin or sulfonylureas, and adverse effects comparable to other GLP-1 receptor agonists 2, 4
Clinical Context
If you are asking about oral diabetes medications versus injectable tirzepatide, the treatment algorithm is clear:
- Start with metformin as first-line oral therapy for type 2 diabetes 5, 6
- Add a second oral agent (sulfonylurea, DPP-4 inhibitor, SGLT2 inhibitor) if metformin alone is insufficient 5, 6
- When injectable therapy becomes necessary, GLP-1 receptor agonists (including tirzepatide) are preferred over insulin due to superior or equivalent HbA1c reduction, lower hypoglycemia risk, and weight loss rather than weight gain 5
- Injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists should be prioritized in patients with established cardiovascular disease, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease 7, 8
There are no oral tirzepatide tablets to compare—only the injectable formulation exists and demonstrates exceptional efficacy for glycemic control and weight reduction.