*An off-label use of a medication is a use that is not FDA-approved. Prescribers can decide to use a medication off-label because, in their professional judgment, they believe it may offer a benefit to someone.
The cost of Adderall depends on your insurance coverage, the dosage prescribed to you, your choice of pharmacy, and other factors. The cash cost of Adderall currently ranges from $325-$364 for a 30-day supply. If you have insurance coverage, the amount you pay depends on the prescription drug benefits of your plan. Adderall coupons can be used at local and online pharmacies to save on your prescription costs. Using generic Adderall and getting your prescription by mail order can also help you cut prescription costs.
Because of the restrictions and regulations around controlled substances, some pharmacies may not honor coupons for these medications. The current shortage for stimulant medications such as Adderall may also affect the cost.
Boxed Warning: amphetamine, dextroamphetamine mixed salts (Adderall) - Risk of medication misuse or abuse
Adderall has a black box warning. These are the most serious types of warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Amphetamines, an active ingredient in Adderall, have a risk of misuse (abuse) which can lead to dependence on the medication, serious heart conditions, and even sudden death.
Adderall is a controlled substance, which means that it’s more likely to be misused or cause dependence. There are federal and state laws that limit the amount of medication that can be prescribed or dispensed within a certain period of time.
Find the Best Prices on Prescription Medication
Optum Perks – With Optum Perks, people save up to 80% on most prescriptions. Optum Perks provides discounts at over 64,000 pharmacies nationwide. No memberships or costs to you, ever. It’s really that easy. Get your card and start saving. Get the discount card!
How Much Does Adderall Cost Without Insurance?
Without insurance, Adderall prescription costs can change depending on the strength, quantity, and the pharmacy you use. There are ways to save money, such as cash discount cards or switching to the generic version, which can significantly lower costs.
Adderall Prices
The cost of Adderall currently ranges from $325-$364 for a 30-day supply of 5 milligrams without insurance. Your Adderall prescription may cost much less with insurance depending on your plan and coverage. A similar prescription of the generic form of Adderall, amphetamine, dextroamphetamine mixed salts, costs $15-$31. The cost of Adderall will also vary based on the dosage and amount prescribed. Coupons for Adderall are often available and may reduce your out of pocket costs.
Note: Cash prices listed are derived from multiple sources. The prices listed are an estimate only and cannot be guaranteed. For exact prices, please contact the pharmacy.
Walmart
$346
Walgreens
$338
CVS / Target
$337
RiteAid
$325
Kroger
$337
Costco
$364
Hy-Vee
$344
Publix
$353
Albertsons
$334
How Much Does Adderall Cost With Insurance?
The cost of Adderall with insurance depends entirely on your insurance company and your specific policy. Some companies may also impose rules on how they cover the medication, sometimes restricting the quantity and whether you get the brand versus the generic. Contact your company to learn more about your policy’s coverage.
Commercial Insurance
With insurance, your out-of-pocket Adderall cost depends on the structure and rules of your policy and prescription drug benefits. Your insurance company can tell you the extent of your coverage, such as your copay and out-of-pocket expenses. Commercial insurance policies can vary widely depending on the insurance provider and the specific plan that you have.
Medicare
Medicare does not cover the cost of brand name Adderall. However, generic Adderall may be covered by some Medicare plans. For those with a Medicare policy, the cost for brand name Adderall will be all out of pocket unless coupons and other cost-saving options are used.1
Medicaid
Medicaid coverage varies depending on the state that you reside in. This type of governmental health plan typically covers Adderall costs. However, your plan may put limits on the quantity it pays for or may only cover generic Adderall.
TRICARE
Adderall may be covered by your TRICARE plan. Contacting Veterans Affairs (VA) can help you determine what your plan covers and answer any other questions you may have about filling your Adderall prescription. Preauthorization may also be required from your insurance company where your doctor will explain why you are on Adderall, and then the company decides if they will cover the medication. According to TRICARE’s formulary check, both brand and generic Adderall are covered, but coverage may vary depending on your plan and prescription.2
Adderall Coupons & Discount Cards
Currently, there are no Adderall manufacturer coupons available. However, Adderall discount cards for both generic and brand name medication may be obtained. Some discounts can be downloaded while others may come directly to you in the mail. Once you have a card, you may use it like a regular coupon at your pharmacy.
Find the Best Prices on Prescription Medication
Optum Perks – With Optum Perks, people save up to 80% on most prescriptions. Optum Perks provides discounts at over 64,000 pharmacies nationwide. No memberships or costs to you, ever. It’s really that easy. Get your card and start saving. Get the discount card!
Adderall Cost Savings Programs
Adderall cost savings programs are available from organizations such as SimpleFill and NeedyMeds. Some organizations provide information about savings programs available for various medications. Others assist with the application and enrollment process. Patients must apply to and meet certain criteria from each program to qualify for savings. The manufacturer for Adderall does not currently offer a patient assistance program.
NeedyMeds
NeedyMeds is a nonprofit organization providing information about savings for prescription medications, including Adderall. The search tool on their website allows people to search for information about specific medications. NeedyMeds also offers their own discount card to those who qualify. Individuals can apply for the discount card and learn more about the program on their website.3
SimpleFill
Simple Fill is a patient assistance program that helps people qualify and maintain enrollment in sources of assistance available for many commonly prescribed medications. Patients who are underinsured or not insured can apply for the program on their website. At this time, Adderall savings programs are not available on SimpleFill, but patients are encouraged to keep checking as program information is frequently updated.4
Other Ways to Save Money on Your Adderall Prescription
Finding coupons online is but one of many options available for saving money on your Adderall prescription. Other options include talking with your pharmacy and utilizing websites dedicated to offering prescription discounts.
Pharmacy Discounts & Adderall Savings Cards
Many pharmacy chains and retailers have their own in-house Adderall savings cards and coupons that can be applied to prescriptions filled with them. Sometimes, these prices can be comparable or cheaper than cards mailed to you or obtained online. To check if your pharmacy has its own discounts, talk to a pharmacy technician or pharmacist. Note that it may not be possible to use these discounts with insurance. Check the requirements of the discount program or savings card you wish to use for details.
Find the Best Prices on Prescription Medication
Optum Perks – With Optum Perks, people save up to 80% on most prescriptions. Optum Perks provides discounts at over 64,000 pharmacies nationwide. No memberships or costs to you, ever. It’s really that easy. Get your card and start saving. Get the discount card!
Online Resources & Apps
There are many websites that offer specific discount cards for the medication that you are looking for. You can search for your exact medication, including the quantity, strength, and if the medication is a brand or generic, and then obtain a discount card for that specific prescription. Some of these online resources have mobile apps that can make them easier to use, such as GoodRx, SingleCare, RxSaver, and Optum Perks.
HSA Accounts
A health savings account (HSA) is a feature of high-deductible health insurance plans. An HSA allows you to set aside pre-tax money from your paycheck to pay for certain health expenses. This means the money you contribute to this account is not subject to federal taxes, leaving the full amount available for use. If you have a high-deductible insurance plan, contact your company directly to learn if your Adderall prescription qualifies.5
Ask Your Prescriber for Samples
Your prescriber may have medication samples for Adderall available. This is intended to provide only a short-term supply of a medication. But it may provide enough to try it before purchasing a larger amount or considering another medication.
Ask About Getting a 90-day Supply
If you and your prescriber decide Adderall may work for you, filling 90-day supplies can be less expensive than monthly refills. Doing so can also help you keep an adequate supply before a refill is needed. Filling 90-day supplies helps cut the cost by shipping less frequently and not operating multiple physical pharmacy locations.
Fill Your Prescription by Mail-order
Filling your prescription by mail-order is another way to get your medication at a lower overall cost. Your provider calls in the prescription directly to a pharmacy that uses mail order, and your medication is typically delivered in a week or two. Mail-order prescriptions work best for medications that are not temperature sensitive and are used for chronic conditions.6
How to Get an Adderall Prescription
To get an Adderall prescription in person, start with an evaluation for your symptoms. Your primary care provider, who may be a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, can help you get the process started. They may make a referral to a psychiatrist or ADHD specialist to determine if Adderall should be included in your treatment plan.
To get an online Adderall prescription, it’s important to do your evaluation with an online provider that can and will prescribe controlled substances. Because it can be challenging to find services like these, we have thoroughly evaluated two such platforms, Circle Medical and ADHD Online. After using these services ourselves, we found them a helpful place to start with an ADHD evaluation.
See If You Have ADHD - Same Day Appointments
Affordable and accessible ADHD evaluations and treatment, including possible controlled substances medication if clinically appropriate. Diagnosis and prescription over video. Insurance accepted. Same day appointments.
Adderall Alternatives
Adderall alternatives can be beneficial for individuals who do not respond well to traditional stimulants or need to avoid them. Stimulant medications for ADHD work by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, which may improve ADHD symptoms related to mood, energy, and attention.7
Nonstimulant medications work differently and it may be several weeks before you feel the full effects. Everyone’s responses to these alternatives can differ based on personal health history and past experiences with potential side effects. A prescribing physician can recommend medications that suit your needs and treatment goals.
Prescriber’s Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Adderall?
How Does Adderall Work?
Adderall is thought to work by affecting the activity of certain brain chemicals to help reduce hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattentiveness.9
Is There a Generic Version of Adderall?
Adderall is one of the many brand names available for the generic form of amphetamine/dextroamphetamine.
Why Does Brand-name Adderall Cost More Than the Generic Version?
Brand name medications undergo costly research for safety and effectiveness under the patent. Generics have the same active ingredient and don’t require the same level of testing to sell it, making it a less expensive option.10
Can Adderall Savings Cards and Discounts Be Used With Insurance?
It depends, some savings programs may allow it while others may not. Check with the program you are applying to understand their restrictions on using insurance.
How Can I Lower My Long-Term Prescription Adderall Costs?
Getting a 90-day supply, filling your prescription via mail order, and using generics are all ways to lower long-term drug costs. For those who qualify, patient assistance and discount programs can also reduce overall medication costs.
Can I Use Coupons for Adderall at My Pharmacy?
Because Adderall is a controlled substance, some pharmacies may not accept coupons.
Does the Cost of Adderall Vary Depending on the Strength?
It’s possible. Costs may also vary depending on your insurance and the pricing at various pharmacies. The dosage of your prescription may also be a factor.
Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
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Medicare and Adderall. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.goodrx.com/adderall/medicare-coverage
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Prescription Drugs | TRICARE. (n.d.). TRICARE. Retrieved from https://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/Pharmacy/Drugs
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Welcome New Users. (n.d.) NeedyMeds.org. Retrieved from https://www.needymeds.org/newuser
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What Is A Prescription Assistance Program? (n.d.). SimpleFill.com. Retrieved from https://simplefill.com/
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What Are HSA-eligible Plans? (n.d.). Healthcare.gov. Retrieved from https://www.healthcare.gov/high-deductible-health-plan/hdhp-hsa-information/
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Getting a Prescription Filled. (July 8, 2023). MedlinePlus.gov. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001956.htm
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Treating and Dealing with ADHD. (08/28/2023). FDA.gov. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/treating-and-dealing-adhd
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DailyMed – Adderall – dextroamphetamine. (2023). Retrieved from https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm
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Sherzada, A. (2012). An Analysis of ADHD Drugs: Ritalin and Adderall. JCCC Honors Journal, 3(1), 2. Retrieved from https://scholarspace.jccc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article
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Generic Drugs: Questions & Answers. (March 16, 2021). FDA.gov. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/frequently-asked-questions-popular-topics/generic-drugs-questions-answers
We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.
Author: No Change
Reviewer: No Change
Primary Changes: Updated cost information in intro paragraph and “Adderall Prices” section.
Author: No Change
Reviewer: No Change
Primary Changes: Added new sections titled “SimpleFill”, “NeedyMeds”, “Pharmacy Discounts & Savings Cards”, “Online Resources & Apps”, “HSA Accounts”, “Ask Your Prescriber for Samples”, “Ask About Getting a 90-day Supply”, Fill Your Prescription by Mail-order”, “Adderall Alternatives”, “Prescriber’s Tips”, “FAQs”; Revised introduction and sections titled “How Much Does Adderall Cost Without Insurance?”, “How Much Does Adderall Cost With Insurance?”, “Commercial Insurance”, “Medicare”, “Medicaid”, “Adderall Cost Savings Programs”, “How to Get an Adderall Prescription”; Reviewed and added relevant sources. Edited for readability and clarity.
Author: Robyn Tyman, PharmD
Reviewer: Heidi Moawad, MD
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Online Psychiatry
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