Zepbound pens vs vials vs KwikPen: what each one contains

Section 3 of the Zepbound label lists four presentations. Two hold one dose in 0.5 mL; two hold four doses in 2.4 mL. The drug is identical across all four, and the label's section 2.4 tells prescribers to make sure patients know which presentation they are getting and are trained on that one, because the handling differs.

The four presentations

Source: Zepbound label sections 3 and 16.1.

All four come in all six strengths: 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 mg per dose.

Concentrations

Single-dose pens and vials contain the strength in 0.5 mL: a 5 mg pen is 5 mg/0.5 mL, or 10 mg/mL; a 15 mg pen is 30 mg/mL. Multi-dose vials and KwikPens contain four times the strength in 2.4 mL, so each 0.6 mL dose delivers the labelled amount:

This matters for one reason: with a brand product you never adjust the volume to change the dose. You change the strength. A person drawing 0.6 mL from a 12.5 mg/mL multi-dose vial gets 7.5 mg every time. Compounded vials break that convention, which is why the units page exists.

Storage differences

Single-dose pen and vial: refrigerate; up to 21 cumulative days at room temperature not above 30°C. Multi-dose vial and KwikPen: refrigerate unopened until expiry, or 30 days at room temperature unopened; once opened, discard after 30 days or four doses, whichever first. The storage page has the full text.

The sharing warning

Section 5.10, added in January 2026 alongside the KwikPen: never share a KwikPen between patients, even if the needle is changed, because of the risk of transmitting blood-borne pathogens. Single-dose products do not raise the issue because there is nothing left to share.

Which presentation carries which price

Lilly's self-pay pricing is presentation-specific. The single-dose vial has been the LillyDirect cash product since August 27, 2024, when Lilly launched 2.5 and 5 mg vials at $399 and $549 per four-week supply and said the vials would expand supply. The current vial prices, $299, $399 and $449 by strength since December 1, 2025, are on the self-pay price page. Lilly's coverage page (accessed September 4, 2026) lists a KwikPen self-pay card at the same $299, $399 and $449 tiers with a 45-day refill requirement, and a single-dose pen savings card for people with commercial coverage. The savings-card page covers those terms.

NDC patterns, for checking a box

Section 16.1 lists the NDCs. All begin 0002 (Lilly). Single-dose pens in 4-packs are 0002-2506-80 (2.5 mg) through 0002-2457-80 (15 mg). Single-dose vials are 0002-0152-01 and -04 for 2.5 mg (1-pack and 4-pack) through 0002-2002-01 and -04 for 15 mg. Multi-dose vials are 0002-6052-11 (2.5 mg) through 0002-6612-11 (15 mg). KwikPens are 0002-3566-11 (2.5 mg) through 0002-3511-11 (15 mg). If the carton in your hand has an NDC that does not start 0002, it is not Zepbound.

Compounded vials

None of the four presentations above. A compounded tirzepatide vial is whatever the compounding pharmacy filled: its own volume, its own concentration, its own beyond-use date. It is not FDA approved and is not interchangeable with any Zepbound or Mounjaro presentation, and none of the label's storage or handling limits apply to it.