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Key takeaways
Vyvanse, a prescription drug for ADHD and BED, lacks a generic alternative, making it expensive for those without insurance, with costs potentially exceeding $5,500 annually.
Insurance coverage for Vyvanse is limited, often excluded from Medicare Part D, and may require prior authorization, but alternatives and patient assistance programs can lower costs.
Cost-reduction strategies include using SingleCare coupons, requesting free samples from prescribers, comparing pharmacy prices, and exploring generic medication options.
For uninsured patients, exploring patient assistance programs, municipal health resources, Medicaid, and CHIP, as well as considering health insurance, are viable options to manage Vyvanse expenses.
Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) is a brand-name prescription drug that treats attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children and binge eating disorder (BED) in adults. Dosages vary based on response to treatment, but the recommended dose is 30 to 70 milligrams (mg) taken by mouth once daily in the morning. Vyvanse is an amphetamine, a type of central nervous system stimulant that helps increase focus, reduce hyperactivity, and improve impulse control in people with ADHD. It also can be used to help reduce binge eating behaviors in people with BED. Vyvanse was not available as a less expensive generic, but in 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved multiple generic formulations of Vyvanse, including capsules and chewable tablets. At this time, there are no over-the-counter (OTC) substitutes for Vyvanse, so patients without insurance may have to pay full price for a prescription.
Is Vyvanse covered by insurance?
As of early 2020, about 80% of health insurance plans covered Vyvanse to some extent. However, Vyvanse is not commonly covered under Medicare Part D plans. Those on Medicare or Medicaid plans should ask their prescribers or insurance companies about possible coverage options. Insurance companies may sometimes review the treatment plans with prescribers before covering Vyvanse, a process known as prior authorization.
How much does Vyvanse cost without insurance?
The retail price of Vyvanse can vary depending on the dose prescribed. A single 30-day supply of 70 mg capsules (the highest dose) costs $567, or about $19 per pill. Vyvanse is a long-term treatment, so uninsured patients can expect to spend $6,800 or more over the course of a year. For people with health insurance, the copay cost of Vyvanse can vary widely. About one in five healthcare plans do not offer Vyvanse coverage, so their policyholders will need to pay the full retail price. For plans that do cover Vyvanse, the out-of-pocket costs could vary dramatically. However, a SingleCare coupon could cut the cost of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, the generic form of Vyvanse, down to about $100 per month.
There are also similar and less expensive stimulants—dextroamphetamine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and methylphenidate—that can be substituted for Vyvanse. While Vyvanse is the only FDA-approved ADHD medication that also treats BED, these other stimulants can be used off-label to treat it. Dosages and side effects may differ, but they are all effective. There are also treatments for ADHD that are not stimulants, particularly Strattera (atomoxetine). In addition, ADHD can be controlled with some blood pressure medications. SSRIs can be helpful for binge eating. Most of these alternatives can be purchased as generics, so it’s worth asking a healthcare professional about non-stimulant treatment options. There are no OTC ADHD or BED medications.
| Vyvanse prices compared to alternative stimulants | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Name | Price without insurance | SingleCare price | Savings options |
|
AMPHETAMINES |
|||
| Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) | $567 for 30, 70 mg capsules | $100 for 30, 70 mg capsules | See updated prices |
| Zenzedi (dextroamphetamine sulfate) | $600 for 60, 10 mg tablets | $36 for 60, 10 mg tablets | See updated prices |
| Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine sulfate ER) | $281 for 30, 10 mg capsules | $30 for 30, 10 mg capsules | See updated prices |
| Adderall (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine) | $402 for 30,
20 mg tablets |
$10 for 30, 20 mg tablets | See updated prices |
| Adderall XR (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine XR) | $344 for 30, 30 mg capsules | $28 for 30, 30 mg capsules | See updated prices |
| Evekeo (amphetamine sulfate) | $567 for 60, 10 mg tablets | $32 for 60, 10 mg tablets | See updated prices |
| Desoxyn (methamphetamine HCl) | $2,225 for 30, 5 mg tablets | $93 for 30, 5 mg tablets | See updated prices |
|
METHYLPHENIDATES |
|||
| Ritalin (methylphenidate HCl) | $196 for 90, 20 mg tablets | $17 for 90, 20 mg tablets | See updated prices |
| Concerta ( methylphenidate HCl ER) | $654
30, 36 mg tablets |
$37 for 30, 36 mg tablets | See updated prices |
| Focalin (dexmethylphenidate HCl) | $127 for 60, 10 mg tablets | $9 for 60, 10 mg tablets | See updated prices |
| Focalin XR (dexmethylphenidate HCl ER) | $532 for 30, 10 mg tablets | $47 for 30, 10 mg tablets | See updated 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. The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs, if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see updated drug prices.
RELATED: Mydayis vs. Vyvanse
How to get Vyvanse without insurance
As a brand-name prescription drug with no OTC versions, Vyvanse prices can be hard to afford without health insurance coverage. Fortunately, patient assistance programs and manufacturer coupons help make Vyvanse more affordable. It is also now available in its generic form, lisdexamfetamine dimesylate. Alternatively, there are less expensive stimulants available. Most pharmaceutical companies, including Takeda, the manufacturer of Vyvanse, offer patient assistance if people meet certain income requirements. There are, however, more foolproof ways to manage the cost of a Vyvanse prescription, starting with a SingleCare prescription discount card.
1. Use a SingleCare coupon
Patients can always realize immediate savings on Vyvanse from SingleCare without filling out an enrollment application, shopping around, or considering taking different medications. With a SingleCare savings card, the price of generic Vyvanse is only about $100, compared to the brand-name cash price of $567, a $467 savings. A Vyvanse coupon is good at many participating local pharmacies.
2. Ask the prescriber for a free sample
Vyvanse is marketed heavily to psychiatrists and doctors so that they may have a supply of free samples given to them by pharmaceutical representatives. If Vyvanse is unaffordable, ask the prescriber if they have free samples. This may help cover the first month or two of treatment.
3. Shop around
Most people don’t know that drug prices vary by pharmacy. All drugs have a list price, but some pharmacies charge more than others. Use SingleCare to find the pharmacy with the lowest price. Some mail-order online pharmacies offer low prices, but make sure that they are legitimate pharmacies before ordering any prescription drugs from them.
4. Ask the prescriber about generic ADHD medications
Get medical advice from the prescriber about less expensive ADHD prescription medications that can be readily substituted for Vyvanse. Unfortunately, Vyvanse is the only prescription stimulant approved by the FDA to treat binge eating disorder.
5. Talk to county or city health officials
For people living in more populated areas, county and municipal health departments can direct patients to resources to help them pay for medications. These include community health clinics and other health programs. They will probably not cover a brand-name prescription drug like Vyvanse because there are many generic alternatives. Still, it’s worth knowing the resources available in the community.
6. Consider Medicaid or CHIP
Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are unlikely to pay for a Vyvanse prescription because of many low-priced generic alternatives. However, if paying for low-priced generics is still burdensome, consider Medicaid as a health insurance option.
7. Consider health insurance
ADHD and BED can be lifelong medical conditions. They are often treated with controlled substances, such as Vyvanse, which means that each month’s prescription can require a doctor’s visit in most states. That’s 12 doctor’s appointments per year, along with the cost of the medication. Long-term medical conditions like ADHD and BED are a good excuse to look into health insurance, which is more affordable than most people think. Visit the health insurance marketplace or talk to an agent.
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Sources
- US Product List, Takeda (2024)
- ADHD Medications Approved by the FDA, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), 2021
- FDA approves multiple generics of ADHD and BED treatment, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2023)