How much is Ambien without insurance?

In this article:

• What is the generic for Ambien?
• Is Ambien covered by insurance?
• How much does Ambien cost without insurance?
• How to get Ambien without insurance

In this article

• What is the generic for Ambien?
• Is Ambien covered by insurance?
• How much does Ambien cost without insurance?
• How to get Ambien without insurance

Ambien (zolpidem) is a widely recognized brand-name prescription for insomnia. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992 for short-term treatment of insomnia, it has subsequently become available in a generic form. The drug is specifically tasked with helping people fall asleep initially. The value of a good night’s sleep may seem priceless, but at $790 for 30, 10 mg tablets of brand-name Ambien without health insurance, the cost could be prohibitive. As you will learn, there are a number of ways to get a lower price.

Related: Ambien dosage | Ambien side effects

What is the generic for Ambien?

The first place to look for a lower price is at a generic, and zolpidem tartrate fits the bill as Ambien’s generic version. The retail price of zolpidem runs about $97 for a 30-day supply of 10 mg tablets, a lot less than brand-name Ambien. With a SingleCare coupon, the same amount of zolpidem can be had for only $10 without insurance.

Is Ambien covered by insurance?

To determine if your insurance plan covers Ambien, you will need to consult your plan’s drug formulary. The formulary will state whether Ambien is covered and categorize it by tier or preferred status to determine the copay required. 

Many insurance plans, including Aetna’s Standard Plan and Humana’s Medicare Advantage Plan, do not cover Ambien. Instead, plans tend to cover Zolpidem as a lower-priced alternative.

How much does Ambien cost without insurance?

For those without insurance coverage, Ambien’s price can seem steep. The brand-name drug can retail for $790 for 30, 10 mg tablets. The $26 daily price of Ambien for a night’s sleep may be too much for some people. Annually, the expense would add up to over $9000, but according to its label, Ambien is only meant for short-term use, with a time frame of 4 to 5 weeks mentioned in the label.

The price will certainly vary from pharmacy to pharmacy. While shopping around, it may also be worthwhile to compare the prices of other options. Zolpidem, the generic form of Ambien, can be purchased without insurance for much less. Other insomnia drugs offer savings as well. The following table details some options and compares their retail prices and the discounted costs using SingleCare coupons.

RELATED: Ambien alternatives: What can I take instead of Ambien?

Compare Ambien (zolpidem) prices to related drugs
Drug name	Price without insurance of brand-name drug	SingleCare price	Savings options
Ambien	$790 per 30, 10 mg tablets	$10 per 30, 10 mg tablets of generic zolpidem	See latest prices
Zolpidem	$97 per 30, 10 mg tablets	$10 per 30, 10 mg tablets of generic zolpidem	See latest prices
Ambien CR (zolpidem extended-release)	$800 per 30, 12.5 mg tablets	$20 per 30, 12.5 mg tablets of generic zolpidem extended-release	See latest prices
Lunesta (eszopiclone)	$1130 per 30, 3 mg tablets	$19 per 30, 3 mg tablets of generic eszopiclone	See latest prices
Zaleplon	$108 per 30, 10 mg tablets	$16 per 30, 10 mg tablets of generic zaleplon	See latest prices
Silenor (doxepin)	$650 per 30, 6 mg tablets	$55 per 30, 6 mg tablets of generic doxepin	See latest prices
Rozerem (ramelteon)	$520 per 30, 8 mg tablets	$34 per 30, 8 mg tablets of generic ramelton	See latest prices
Dayvigo (lemborexant)	$440 per 30, 10 mg tablets	$290 per 30, 10 mg tablets of brand-name DayVigo	See latest prices
Belsomra (suvorexant)	$615 per 30 tablets	$390 per 30 tablets of brand-name Belsomra	See latest prices
Quviviq (daridorexant)	$630 per 30, 50 mg tablets	$490 per 30, 50 mg tablets of brand-name Quviviq	See latest prices
Trazodone	$33 per 30, 50 mg tablets	$4 per 30, 50 mg tablets of generic trazodone	See latest prices

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs, if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.

How to get Ambien without insurance

Brand-name drugs like Ambien are often expensive. They can definitely strain a budget. The medication’s manufacturer, Sanofi, offers a savings card for some of its Ambien products. In addition to Ambien, they also make Ambien IR, a fast-acting version for use in the middle of the night, and Ambien CR, a long-acting version for those with sleep maintenance insomnia. Unfortunately, the savings card is only available for those with commercial insurance who meet their guidelines, whereas alternatives like the following are more widely applicable.

1. Get a SingleCare discount card

The SingleCare discount card is free to obtain and easy to use. Present it to your pharmacist, and the price of generic zolpidem can drop to $10 for 30, 10 mg pills. As simple as that, people can save $780 off the cost of brand-name Ambien or over $80 off the price of generic zolpidem. Surely, there are plenty of ways to spend the $26 in daily savings earned by not paying the retail price for Ambien.

2. Shop around at different pharmacies

Like other areas of retail, pharmacies have different prices for their goods, including pharmaceuticals. The price of Ambien will vary from one to another, and the potential prescription discounts will differ, too. Over 35,000 pharmacies in the United States accept SingleCare coupons. Using a SingleCare coupon, the discount price of 30, 10 mg zolpidem tablets can vary from $10 to $30, depending on the pharmacy. Being a bargain hunter can pay off.

3. Consider other medications for insomnia

Some sleep aids, like DayVigo, Belsomra, and Quviviq, are cheaper than Ambien when looking at full retail price, but they do not have generic versions. In comparison, Ambien CR, Rozerem, Silenor, and Lunesta have generic forms that are available with a SingleCare coupon for prices that are competitive with generic Ambien. Trazodone, priced at $4 for 30, 50 mg tablets with a SingleCare coupon, is the cheaper option listed, but trazodone is not FDA-approved for insomnia, meaning this use is off-label.

4. Ask about alternatives to prescriptions

Prescription medication is not the only option for insomnia. For example, melatonin is an over-the-counter supplement used to assist with sleep. It is available for $3 for 60 tablets with a SingleCare discount. Antihistamines like diphenhydramine are used off-label, too, including as an active ingredient in Tylenol PM, which may only cost $2 for 50 tablets with a coupon.

Drug-free treatment is another alternative worth considering. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven efficacy for insomnia, and according to a review, it may be just as good as insomnia medications. CBT may be a method to avoid drug side effects like daytime drowsiness and complex sleep-related behaviors, such as sleep-walking and sleep-driving. 

Many of the prescriptions for insomnia, including sedative-hypnotics like Ambien, are controlled substances that carry a risk of abuse and withdrawal symptoms. They can also be dangerous if combined with alcohol or other sedating medications, like benzodiazepines, including Ativan (lorazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam), and opioid analgesics, like Roxicodone (oxycodone).

Deciding between various drug treatments and talk therapy should be done in consultation with your healthcare provider. Their medical advice will be valuable in determining which option is right for you.