Key takeaways
- Sertraline is a generic prescription medication approved by the FDA to treat multiple mental health conditions in adults.
- The medication comes in three oral forms: tablet, capsule, and solution. Costs can vary depending on several factors. These include your treatment plan, insurance coverage, the pharmacy used, and the form prescribed.
- Generics, such as sertraline, tend to cost less than their brand-name drugs, such as Zoloft. Getting a 90-day supply or using mail-order pharmacy services may help reduce long-term medication costs.
Several factors can affect the price you’ll pay for sertraline, including:
- your treatment plan
- your insurance coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- available financial assistance for sertraline (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section)
To find out the cost of sertraline for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Coupons and savings
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Sertraline is a generic drug, which is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered as safe and effective as the original drug.
Sertraline also comes as the brand-name drug Zoloft, as shown in the following table:
| Form | Available generic | Available brand | Brand name |
|---|---|---|---|
| oral tablet | ✓ | ✓ | Zoloft |
| oral capsule | ✓ | ||
| oral solution | ✓ | ✓ | Zoloft |
If your doctor has prescribed sertraline and you’re interested in taking Zoloft instead, talk with your doctor. They may recommend that you take one version or the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as it may cover only one version or the other.
To find out how the cost of sertraline and its brand-name version compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
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 exclusively 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 also can lead to lower generic costs.
If you take sertraline long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:
- Look into getting a 90-day supply: You may be able to get a 90-day supply of sertraline if approved by your insurance company. This 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 or insurance provider.
- Use a mail-order pharmacy: Using a mail-order pharmacy 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, including 90-day supplies. 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.
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If you need financial support to pay for sertraline or help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example, some websites provide details about drug assistance programs and ways to make the most of your insurance coverage. Some provide links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:
Does sertraline’s cost vary by strength in milligrams (mg) (25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg) or form (tablet, capsule, liquid)?
Sertraline’s cost can vary depending on which form you’re prescribed. The drug comes in three oral forms: tablet, capsule, and solution. Sertraline’s cost usually doesn’t vary by strength.
Keep in mind that several factors may affect sertraline’s cost. These include your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.
Your pharmacist may be able to help determine what sertraline could cost for you based on the strength and form you’re taking.
What is sertraline’s cost without insurance?
The cost of sertraline with or without insurance can vary. In general, costs are usually higher without insurance. Even if you have insurance, you may still have some out-of-pocket costs for sertraline. These are the costs that you will be paying.
If you have questions about the cost of sertraline, such as out-of-pocket costs, talk with your pharmacist. They may be able to help determine what sertraline costs with and without insurance.
How much does sertraline cost in the United States?
Costs of sertraline can vary in the United States and internationally. Costs will also vary based on things such as your treatment plan and insurance coverage, as well as the pharmacy you use.
For more information about factors that affect how much sertraline costs, see the rest of this article or talk with your pharmacist.
Is sertraline expensive?
It depends. Several factors may affect sertraline’s cost. These include which pharmacy you use, your treatment plan, and your insurance plan.
Your pharmacist can provide more information about how much sertraline may cost for you.
You may want to consider the following important information if you have insurance and receive sertraline.
If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers sertraline. This means the company and your doctor will discuss sertraline in regard to your treatment. The insurance company then will 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 sertraline requires prior authorization.
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.