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Drug Info

How much is Fetzima without insurance?

Fetzima costs $458 without insurance. Learn how to get Fetzima at a lower price, or find cheaper alternatives.
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By | Jan. 4, 2023 Medically reviewed by Karen Berger, Pharm.D.
Hand holding Rx capsule: Fetzima without insurance

Key takeaways

  • Fetzima, a brand-name prescription drug for major depressive disorder, costs $458 without insurance, with no generic version available.

  • Many health insurance plans cover Fetzima, but out-of-pocket costs can still be significant due to high drug tier placements.

  • Strategies to reduce the cost of Fetzima include using SingleCare savings cards, comparing pharmacy prices, requesting free samples from healthcare providers, and exploring manufacturer’s patient assistance programs.

  • Alternatives to Fetzima include generic SNRIs and SSRIs, which can be significantly cheaper, especially when using prescription discount cards like SingleCare.

In this article:

Fetzima is a brand-name prescription drug FDA-approved to treat major depressive disorder in adults. The active ingredient in Fetzima, levomilnacipran, belongs to a family of drugs called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). These drugs change the chemistry of the brain to enable people with depression to better regulate their mood. Side effects of Fetzima may include nausea, sweating, constipation, increased heart rate or high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, and serotonin syndrome. In clinical studies, there was an increased risk of suicidal thoughts in children, adolescents, and young adults who took antidepressants. Patients of any age who take Fetzima must be closely monitored. Manic episodes may also occur in people taking Fetzima who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Currently, there is no generic version of Fetzima, so people prescribed this medication may pay a premium for the brand-name version, depending on insurance. Even so, there are several strategies to get Fetzima or other SNRI therapy for less. 

What is the generic for Fetzima?

There is currently no generic version of Fetzima on the market. However, other drugs in the SNRI class are available as generic. You can discuss options with your healthcare provider.

Is Fetzima covered by insurance?

Fetzima is covered by many health insurance plans and Medicare Part D drug plans, but not all. Medicaid plans are less likely to cover Fetzima. Plans that do cover Fetzima often place it in the highest drug tiers, so a significant percentage of the retail cost may be paid by the patient as a copay. Other factors that can also affect the final out-of-pocket cost with insurance include the dosage prescribed, any coinsurance, and the current coverage phase for eligible patients who are on a Medicare drug plan.

How much does Fetzima cost without insurance?

People without health insurance coverage for Fetzima could pay the full retail price of $605 for 30, 40 mg extended-release capsules. That’s $20 per capsule. A year of treatment at the cash price could cost $7,200 unless ways to reduce the cost are found. Fortunately, it’s possible to get Fetzima at a reduced cost. It’s also possible to switch to very similar but lower-priced alternatives. The drugs that work most like Fetzima are other SNRIs such as generic Effexor (venlafaxine) and generic Cymbalta (duloxetine). The average price of a 30-day supply of generic Effexor is about $50. However, SNRIs do not exhaust all the possible alternatives. An imposing array of generic SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants can be substituted in the place of brand-name antidepressants like Fetzima if approved by the healthcare provider.
Drug name Price without insurance of brand-name drug  SingleCare price Savings options
Fetzima $605 per 30, 40 mg capsules $458 per 30, 40 mg capsules of brand-name Fetzima  See latest prices
Duloxetine $236 per 30, 60 mg capsules $5 per 30, 60 mg capsules of generic duloxetine See latest prices
Venlafaxine $52 per 30, 75 mg tablets $4 per 30, 75 mg tablets of generic venlafaxine See latest prices
Desvenlafaxine ER $198 per 30, 50 mg tablets $147 per 30, 50 mg tablets of generic desvenlafaxine ER See latest prices
Sertraline $72 per 30, 50 mg tablets $2 per 30, 50 mg tablets of generic sertraline See latest prices
Fluoxetine $60 per 30, 20 mg capsules $4 per 30, 20 mg capsules of generic fluoxetine 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 Fetzima without insurance

Unlike some medications, antidepressants are usually long-term treatments. The shortest duration is typically six months, but some people could take a drug like Fetzima for a year or even many years. A year of Fetzima will cost over $7,000 at the full retail price. The manufacturer’s patient assistance program may be one way to overcome this financial hurdle, but not everyone will meet the eligibility requirements. Manufacturer coupons and rebates are not currently offered, so that’s not an option. This means that many people with a Fetzima prescription and no insurance have two choices: find the lowest price or switch to another antidepressant. A SingleCare prescription discount card is the first place to start saving.

1. Use a SingleCare savings card

The lowest SingleCare discount price for a 30-day supply of Fetzima is $458—which is $150 less than the average out-of-pocket price. The savings quickly add up: $900 in savings for six months of Fetzima and $1,800 for a year of treatment. SingleCare participating pharmacies will charge different discount prices, so visit SingleCare’s Fetzima coupons page to explore savings at nearby local pharmacies.

2. Look for the lowest price for Fetzima

Simply calling pharmacies and checking their prices can net big savings. The lowest pharmacy price for Fetzima is more than $100 less than the average price. Again, over six months of Fetzima at the lowest price will add up to $600 in savings.

3. Ask the prescriber for a free sample

A free Fetzima sample will provide enough medicine for the first week of treatment. One week of free Fetzima doesn’t sound impressive, but it does represent a savings of $150. The prescribing healthcare professional may have samples from the manufacturer—or if not, they may be able to request samples.

4. Consider health insurance

If treatment for depression is an ongoing concern, health insurance may provide stable long-term savings. The math can be complicated: balancing the costs of health insurance against the benefits. If the cost of health insurance is prohibitive, you may qualify for Medicaid. Premiums and out-of-pocket costs are minimal and may be zero. Each state’s Medicaid website spells out the eligibility requirements, explains the enrollment process, and has additional information that could be useful. However, when considering health insurance or Medicaid, make sure that it will cover the prescription drugs needed.

5. Ask for medical advice about alternative treatment options

Finally, it is reasonable to ask the prescriber about other antidepressants. There are several other drugs that work like Fetzima in the SNRI drug class. Most are available as lower-cost generics. They can cost as little as $4 a month with a SingleCare savings card. The options don’t end there. Pharmacy shelves are filled with generic antidepressants of other types. Now, these drugs do work differently and may have different common side effects and drug interactions than an SNRI. However, if they haven’t been tried, talk to the prescribing healthcare provider about the trade-offs.