Depakote and cost

As with all medications, the cost of Depakote can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:

• your treatment plan
• your insurance coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• whether Depakote has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)

To find out what the cost of Depakote will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Note: If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Depakote. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Depakote in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered. If a drug requires prior authorization but you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether Depakote requires prior authorization.

The active ingredient of Depakote is divalproex sodium. It’s available as the following generic drugs:

• divalproex sodium DR (delayed-release) tablet
• divalproex sodium DR sprinkle capsule
• divalproex sodium ER (extended-release) tablet

A generic drug is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

If your doctor has prescribed Depakote and you’re interested in taking a generic form instead, talk with your doctor. They may have a preference for one version or the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as it may only cover one or the other.

To find out how the cost of this generic drug compares with the cost of Depakote, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

WHY ARE COSTS DIFFERENT FOR BRAND-NAME DRUGS VS. GENERIC DRUGS?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the research needed to test their safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell it for up to 20 years. When the brand-name drug’s patent expires, multiple manufacturers can create generic versions. This marketplace competition may lead to lower costs for generics. Also, because generics contain the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t require the same costly testing.

If you take Depakote long term, you may be able to lower its cost in the following ways.

Getting a 3-month supply

You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Depakote. If approved by your insurance company, getting a 90-day supply of the drug could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost. If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Using a mail-order pharmacy

Depakote may be available through a mail-order pharmacy. Using this type of service may help lower the drug’s cost and allow you to receive your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug via mail order.

The manufacturer of Depakote has partnered with a program that provides a discount for filling your prescription at a mail order pharmacy. You can read about the details here.

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 financial support to pay for Depakote, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:

• The Depakote Savings Card is available for this drug. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 800-364-4767 or visit the program website.
• Some websites provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:
  • Medicine Assistance Tool
  • NeedyMeds

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance, check out this article.

Now that you’ve learned about cost and Depakote, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Depakote. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for Depakote.

Here are some other resources you may find helpful:

• Medicare drug coverage. To learn about Medicare coverage for drugs, see these articles about Medicare prescription drug plans, drug coupons and Medicare, and the Medicare drug list.
• More details. For details about other aspects of Depakote, refer to this article.
• Dosage. Learn about Depakote and dosage by viewing this article.
• Side effects. For details about Depakote’s side effects, see this article. You can also look at the prescribing information for Depakote, Depakote ER, and Depakote sprinkle capsules.
• Interactions. You can find out more about what Depakote interacts with by visiting this article.
• Information about your condition. To learn more about the conditions Depakote is prescribed to treat, see our hubs on bipolar disorder, epilepsy and seizures, and headache and migraine.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.