Duloxetine is a generic prescription drug that’s prescribed to manage certain pain and mental health conditions. Duloxetine’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, your pharmacy, and whether you have health insurance.
If you’re looking at treatment options for certain mood or pain disorders, you may want to learn more about duloxetine.
Duloxetine is a generic prescription drug that’s prescribed to treat the following conditions:
- major depressive disorder in adults
- diabetic neuropathy in adults
- fibromyalgia in adults and some children ages 13 years or older
- generalized anxiety disorder in adults and some children ages 7 years or older
- chronic (long lasting) musculoskeletal pain in adults
Duloxetine belongs to a group of drugs called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). The drug comes as a delayed-release capsule that you swallow. (“Delayed-release” means the drug is released slowly into your body over a period of time.)
Duloxetine is also available as the brand-name drugs Cymbalta and Drizalma Sprinkle.
Keep reading for details on duloxetine and cost, plus how to save money on prescriptions. For more details on duloxetine, see this in-depth article.
The price you pay for duloxetine can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.
To find out how much you’ll pay for duloxetine, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or look below in the next section to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.
To save money on your duloxetine prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
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Save on duloxetine without insurance.
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Simply show the Optum Perks coupon at your preferred pharmacy or order online and instantly save up to 80% without using insurance. The coupon doesn’t expire, so be sure to save it for refills.
Retail price refers to the manufacturer’s published list price and is up to date as of 3/2023. Retail and discounted prices are U.S.-only and can vary based on region and pharmacy. We cannot guarantee that the discounted price listed here will exactly match the price at your pharmacy. Please contact your pharmacy for the exact price.
Optum Perks and Healthline are subsidiaries of RVO Health.
Pricing source:Perks.optum.com
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about duloxetine and cost.
Does duloxetine’s price vary depending on which strength I take (20 mg, 30mg, 40 mg, or 60 mg)?
The price of duloxetine may vary slightly depending on the strength in milligrams (mg) that you’re prescribed.
To learn how much you’ll pay for duloxetine, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
How much does duloxetine cost without insurance?
The cost of duloxetine without insurance depends on several factors. But in general, your cost will be higher without insurance.
Your cost for duloxetine may depend on factors such as:
- your treatment plan and dosage
- whether you qualify for any savings programs
- the pharmacy you choose
- the form of the drug you’re prescribed
- the supply of medication you receive (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)
To find out the exact cost of duloxetine without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Also, you may want to check with a few pharmacies to compare prices.
You can also visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for duloxetine when you use coupons from the site. It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.
Duloxetine is a generic drug. This means it’s an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered to be just as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics generally cost less than brand-name drugs.
Duloxetine also comes as the brand-name versions Cymbalta and Drizalma Sprinkle. To find out how the costs of Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle, and duloxetine compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If you’ve been prescribed duloxetine and you’re interested in taking Cymbalta or Drizalma Sprinkle instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you take one version instead of the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as it may only cover one drug or the other.
Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.
If you take duloxetine long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:
Look into getting a 90-day supply of your medication: You may be able to get a 90-day supply of duloxetine if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of duloxetine. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication: Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for duloxetine. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug through mail order. If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.
If you need help covering the cost of duloxetine or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:
On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you still have questions about the cost of duloxetine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for duloxetine.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider include:
- Is it possible to take two 20-mg capsules of duloxetine instead of one 40-mg capsule?
- If my doctor changes my dose of duloxetine, can I bring my medication back for a refund?
- Are there less expensive drugs that can treat my condition?
To learn more about duloxetine and Cymbalta (a brand-name version of duloxetine), see these articles:
To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.