Is Vraylar Worth the Investment? Vraylar Cost Without Insurance

Category: Prescription Related Questions

Author Scott

Posted on May 9, 2024

Scott is passionate about health and wellness, and enjoys writing on various topic surrounding these fields. Scott lives in Seattle and spends his free time restoring old furniture and playing pickleball with his friends.

People with bipolar disorder are at an increased risk of suicidal ideation. Meanwhile, individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia have a 10-20-year lower life expectancy than the general population.

The good news is that prescription medications like Vrayler can help manage the symptoms of these disorders and save lives. Yet, many individuals struggle to afford the cost of this life-saving drug.

How much does Vraylar cost without insurance, and what can you do to make your medication more affordable? We will discuss the answers to these questions and more in this guide.

What Is Vraylar?

Vraylar (cariprazine) is an atypical antipsychotic prescription medication prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Specifically, it treats acute manic or mixed mania episodes and depression experienced by people with bipolar I disorder.

When doctors prescribe Vraylar for bipolar I disorder, they may recommend it alongside an antidepressant.

This brand-name drug also has off-label use for major depressive disorder. Off-label use means that the drug is not FDA-approved for that purpose but may provide benefits anyway.

Vraylar is an oral medication prescribed for once-daily use. The daily dose ranges from 1.5 to 6 milligrams, depending on which condition you take it for and your doctor's guidelines.

What Does Vraylar Cost Without Insurance?

Vraylar costs more than $56 per pill without insurance. That comes out to around $1,694 per month, or over $20,000 for a full-year supply. It is one of the most expensive antipsychotics on the market.

With insurance, the cost is much lower. Depending on your insurance company, you may only have to pay up to $45 for a 30-day prescription. Some policies will cover the entire cost of Vraylar.

Why Is Vraylar So Expensive?

Vraylar is so expensive because a Vraylar generic version is not available yet. When generics are not available, the brand-name manufacturer can increase prices without competition to drive them back down.

Another reason your Vraylar prescription may be expensive is due to insurance. Certain insurance companies and policies do not cover as much of the cost as others. Or you may not have insurance at all.

How Can You Reduce the Cost of Vraylar?

You can reduce the cost of Vraylar by using your insurance plan to pay for it. If your insurance won't cover it, you may be able to access savings via prescription medication coupons and discounts.

For many people, these strategies may not be enough to lower the cost of Vraylar. In that case, consider asking your doctor about cheaper alternatives for your symptoms.

What Is a Cheaper Alternative to Vraylar?

Vraylar is not currently available as a generic to lower the cost of your prescription medication. If you are concerned about the cost of Vraylar, your doctor may prescribe one of the following lower-price alternatives.

Abilify

Abilify (aripiprazole) is an atypical antipsychotic prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder. It may also be prescribed to people with Autism Spectrum disorder, major depressive disorder, and Tourette's syndrome.

This brand-name antipsychotic costs $624 for a 30-day supply. That comes out to about $20.8 per pill, which is more than half the price of Vraylar.

Abilify is also available as a generic. Generic aripiprazole can lower the cost of your prescription medication even further.

Latuda

Latuda (lurasidone) is an atypical antipsychotic prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar depression. It is not meant to treat mania or hypomania in people with bipolar I and II disorder.

Latuda is slightly more affordable than Vraylar. A 30-day supply costs $1,503 or around $50 per day.

While not the most significant savings, generic lurasidone was approved by the FDA in 2023 and costs much less than brand-name Latuda.

Risperdal

Risperdal (risperidone) is a brand-name atypical antipsychotic. Doctors prescribe this medication for the treatment of schizophrenia and people with bipolar I disorder featuring acute manic or mixed bipolar episodes.

Risperdal is one of the cheapest antipsychotic prescriptions available. It costs around $301 for a two-month supply or $150 for a 30-day supply. That comes out to only $5 per day.

Generic Risperdal (risperidone) is also available at an even more affordable cost.

Saphris

Saphris (asenapine) is a brand-name atypical antipsychotic prescribed to people with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder featuring acute manic or mixed bipolar episodes.

Saphris is slightly cheaper than Vraylar. A two-month supply costs $1,274, or around $637 for a 30-day supply, which equals a little over $21 per sublingual dose. Generic Saphris (asenapine) is also available.

However, most doctors prescribe Saphris and generic asenapine for twice-daily use. That means the total cost will be around $42 per day.

Seroquel

Seroquel (quetiapine) is an atypical antipsychotic doctors prescribe for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. People with bipolar I manic episodes or bipolar I and II depression can benefit from this drug.

Seroquel is another of the most affordable antipsychotics on the market. It only costs $419 for a 100-day supply. That comes out to around $130 per month, or a little over $4 per day.

However, people with bipolar I disorder manic episodes must take this drug twice daily, making the per-diem cost $8. If you take Seroquel for this reason and need to lower your costs, ask your doctor about generic quetiapine.

Zyprexa

Zyprexa (olanzapine) is a prescription antipsychotic for people with schizophrenia or bipolar I-related acute manic or mixed episodes. Doctors also recommend it for people needing bipolar I maintenance medication.

Like Seroquel and Risperdal, Zyprexa is very cheap for an antipsychotic. It costs $431 for a 30-day supply, which comes out to about $14 per pill.

Generic Zyprexa (olanzapine) is also available to further reduce your monthly prescription bill.

Get Savings on Your Prescriptions

So, how much does Vraylar cost without insurance? Vraylar costs tens of thousands of dollars per year if you have to pay out of pocket. Getting insurance, going for a Vraylar alternative, or accessing discounts online can help lower the cost of your medication.

Are you struggling to afford your prescriptions? PricePro Pharmacy can connect you with Canadian pharmacies offering your life-saving medications at a heavily discounted rate.

Learn how to order today to access savings and get your medication shipped straight to your doorstep.