The cost for escitalopram as a 30-day supply of 10 mg tablets is about $10 with insurance and $20 without insurance when using a coupon. 1,2 The brand name pricing without insurance for 10mg, 30-day supply is about $440.2,3 Other ways you can save money include asking your doctor if you can split a higher dose, using a patient assistance program, requesting 90-day supplies, or using a mail-order pharmacy.
How Much Does Escitalopram Cost?
Factors that impact the cost of escitalopram include the condition you are using it to treat, whether you have insurance, the type of insurance you have, and the dosage form you take. You can save money on escitalopram by taking the generic, asking your doctor if you can split your tablets, or using a mail-order pharmacy.
You can expect your escitalopram prescription to cost you about $20 per month without insurance.1 The brand name pricing without insurance for the same 10mg, 30-day supply is about $440.2
Is Generic Lexapro an Expensive Drug?
Like other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, generic Lexapro is a relatively inexpensive drug. The average price of 30 20mg tablets of generic Lexapro or 30 100mg tablets of sertraline without insurance is the same at about $20, while the average price for 30 20mg tablets of fluoxetine or 30 20mg tablets of paroxetine is about $15.1,3,4,5
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How Much Is Escitalopram Without Insurance?
The average retail price of a 30-day supply of 20 mg of escitalopram without insurance is about $20.1 Some mail-order pharmacies have the lowest prices starting at $4.00 for a 30-day supply, while Costco also has a low price. Walmart and Sam’s Club have similar median prices, while Target, Walgreens, and CVS are the most expensive.
Here is retail escitalopram cost information for major pharmacies:1
Pharmacy | 5mg/30 Tablets | 10mg/30 Tablets | 20mg/30 Tablets |
Costco | $6.10 | $11.59 | $10.49 |
Walmart | $15.00 | $13.93 | $15.00 |
Kroger | $16.40 | $16.34 | $18.86 |
Sam’s Club | $14.45 | $19.55 | $20.66 |
Target | $30.15 | $34.76 | $34.75 |
Walgreens | $25.43 | $34.15 | $33.99 |
CVS | $30.15 | $34.76 | $34.75 |
DiRx | $4.00 | $4.00 | $5.00 |
Home Delivery with GoodRx | $6.60 | $8.70 | $9.90 |
HealthWarehouse | $14.10 | $9.90 | $10.20 |
Adaliade Apothecary | $14.00 | $13.00 | $14.00 |
How Much Does Escitalopram Cost With Insurance?
The type of insurance coverage can impact the cost of your prescription. Escitalopram’s copay, or cost, with commercial insurance, is about $10 for 30 10mg tablets.1 Your copay with government coverage is lower and will cost you from $0-$5 unless you are in the “donut hole”, which may cost up to $20.1,6 Both insurances often have copays and deductibles, the amount you pay before insurance kicks in.
Commercial Insurance
Commercial insurance often has copays and deductibles. Also, your insurance determines whether you get the name brand or the generic version, and typically gives you the generic if it’s available since it costs less.
Medicare
Medicare coverage is similar to commercial coverage, but at a lower cost once your deductible is met. Your deductible is based on the amount the government sets each year. Medicare also determines whether you get the name brand or the generic version.
Medicaid
Some states may have Medicaid deductibles. Copays for medications are between $0-$5.6,7 Medicaid also determines whether you get the name brand or the generic version, and chooses the one that is cheaper, which is usually the generic.
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How to Save on Escitalopram
You can save money on your escitalopram prescription through a number of ways. Some ways include talking to your doctor about receiving a 90-day supply, asking your doctor if you can split higher-dosed pills, or asking them if there is a less expensive alternative. Other ways include asking your insurance if you can save by using a mail-order pharmacy, finding coupons, or enrolling in patient assistance programs.
Ways to save on the cost of escitalopram include:
- Requesting 90-day prescriptions: You may be able to lower your total cost by “buying in bulk” and filling a greater quantity at one time. This should be discussed with your doctor.
- Splitting a higher dosage pill: Cutting a higher dosage pill in half may assist in savings by being slightly more expensive than a smaller dose per pill, but only getting half the amount of pills while still getting the target dose. This should also be discussed with your doctor and the split pill should be taken as your next dose.
- Speak to your doctor about lower-price alternatives: Your doctor may be able to prescribe you another SSRI or antidepressant that is cheaper.
- Insurance: Getting your prescription through your insurance is usually the least expensive way to receive medication.
- Coupons: You can find coupons online through programs, such as GoodRx and WellRx.
- Mail-order pharmacies: Your insurance may have an agreement with a mail-order pharmacy that can save you money on your prescription.
Escitalopram Coupons, Discounts, Copay Cards, & Rebates
If you don’t have insurance or your prescription is still too much with your insurance, you can try to receive discounts by using coupons, discounts, copay cards, or rebates. You can receive these by looking up certain websites.
Escitalopram Coupons
You can get coupons for escitalopram online through programs like GoodRx or WellRx, or through the Rexulti Savings Card by calling 844-415-0674 and paying as little as $5.1,7,8 You can show them to your pharmacy or call and give the information before you pick them up. However, they cannot be combined with commercial or government insurance.
Escitalopram Discounts
Your doctor may have a card for a discount on medications, but since escitalopram is generic, they may not have one. You can ask at your appointment or call their office for information. Like other discount cards, give the information to your pharmacy so they can process the discount.
Escitalopram Rebates
If you don’t have insurance or your insurance does not prefer your medication, you can get a rebate. After purchasing a certain amount, the manufacturer will give you a coupon for your next purchase of the medication. Give the rebate information to the pharmacy before or at your next fill.
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Escitalopram Patient Assistance & Copay Programs
Patient assistance and copay programs are free programs that offer assistance to patients that do or do not have insurance. However, they typically can’t be combined with insurance or other discounts. You can save a good amount of money through these programs. For example, you can receive 30 10mg tablets for $12 or 90 10mg tablets for $25.9
Escitalopram Copay Cards
You can get copay cards online from places like SingleCare and Optum Perks.10,11 Call ahead and give the information to the pharmacy or take the copay card information to your pharmacy when picking up your prescription.
Rx Outreach Medications
You can receive discounts on medications through Rx Outreach.12 It is a program that gives discounts based on certain requirements by filling out an enrollment form online or by phone.
Here are the eligibility criteria for the Rx Outreach Medications Copay Program:
- May have insurance
- Patient must reside in the U.S.
- Earn less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level
HealthWell Foundation Copay Program
HealthWell Foundation offers assistance to people with insurance that are still unable to afford their medications.13 The program also works by filling out an application online or by phone.
Here are the eligibility criteria for the HealthWell Foundation Copay Program:
- May have insurance
- The patient must reside in the U.S.
- In general, contact the manufacturer of escitalopram, Dr. Reddy’s, to ask about possible assistance first. Manufacturer rates are usually better than HealthWell Foundation. However, escitalopram does not have a manufacturer discount.
Factors Affecting Escitalopram Cost
Factors that can affect the price of escitalopram include the number of tablets you receive at one time, if you get the brand or generic form, the dosage, and your geographical location. Other factors include the pharmacy you use, your insurance coverage, and the coupon you use.
Factors that can affect the cost of escitalopram include:
- Quantity of tablets: The more tablets you receive at a time, the more your copay will cost.
- Generic vs. brand name: The generic, escitalopram, is less expensive than the brand name medication, Lexapro.
- Location: Depending on your geographical location and the pharmacy you use, your prescription could cost more at some places than others.
- Insurance coverage: Different insurances will have different copays, depending on which tier your medication is in.
- Available coupons and rebates: If you don’t use insurance and use a coupon, the amount could differ depending on the coupon you use. Also, online coupon prices can change daily.
How to Get an Escitalopram Prescription
Doctors will typically consider SSRIs as one of the first treatment options for anxiety or depression, and escitalopram may be one of the first medications they try. If your doctor tries another SSRI first, they will try other SSRIs, including escitalopram, before moving on to a different drug class.
You can get them from your primary care doctor, psychiatrist, or nurse practitioner. If you do not want to visit an office in person, you may want to consider an online psychiatry service.
Getting Escitalopram from a Mail-Order Prescription
Your insurance may partner with a mail-order pharmacy and provide 90-day supplies for cheaper. They may contact you directly or you can call the member service number on the back of your card to ask.
Online Psychiatry and Medication Management Covered By Insurance
Talkiatry can match you with a real psychiatrist who takes your insurance and is seeing new patients. They’re in-network with major insurers and offer medication management. Get started with a short online assessment
Escitalopram FAQs
Questions you may have when considering escitalopram as a medication include, “What kind of side effects can I expect? What other medications are similar to escitalopram? What is the starting dose?” Other questions may include, “When will my medication begin working? When should I expect to increase my dose?”
What Is Escitalopram?
Escitalopram is an SSRI that works in the brain to slowly increase the amount of serotonin over time.14 Serotonin affects your mood, stress response, appetite, sleep, and energy. It is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.15
How Does Escitalopram Work?
Escitalopram is an SSRI that increases serotonin in the brain to help with anxiety and depression.16 It is indicated for patients 12 years and older. Symptoms it may help relieve include sleep issues, loss of appetite, mood disorders, lack of motivation, muscle pain from anxiety, and lack of interest in activities you usually enjoy.
What Are the Common Side Effects of Escitalopram?
Common side effects of escitalopram include trouble sleeping, male sexual issues, nausea, increased sweating, and excessive tiredness.14 These do not require medical attention. However, if you are experiencing severe nausea, you should tell your doctor immediately.
What Is Escitalopram Withdrawal?
Escitalopram withdrawal can occur if you abruptly stop taking it or drastically decrease your dose. It occurs due to the drastic change of serotonin in the brain because our brains need to gradually adjust to changes in serotonin levels.
The most common symptom of SSRI withdrawal is trouble sleeping, but other symptoms include irritability, flu-like symptoms, stomach pain, and dizziness.16 If you experience these symptoms when decreasing your dose or stopping your medication, immediate medical attention is needed.
What Conditions Does Escitalopram Treat?
Escitalopram is FDA-approved for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.13 FDA-approved means a medication has shown in clinical trials that it is safe and effective for a certain use.
It is also used off-label for panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.17,18,19,20,21 Off-label use means the drug has not been approved by the FDA for a particular use, but trials have shown safety and clinical benefit.
What Doses of Escitalopram Are Available?
Escitalopram comes in tablets of 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg.14 It also comes in a solution of 1 mg/mL. Typically, children and adults take 10 mg daily. Factors that can affect dosages for individuals include the condition you are using escitalopram for or if you are having side effects.
In My Experience
In my experience, escitalopram is a relatively inexpensive drug, whether you are using insurance or a coupon. It’s important to talk to your doctor about escitalopram’s price because they may allow you to split the tablets or can prescribe a cheaper alternative than your insurance covers. If you do not have insurance, patient assistance programs can provide escitalopram for a cheaper price than online coupons.
Additional Resources
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