Venlafaxine is a generic prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat the following mental health conditions:

For more information about venlafaxine’s uses, refer to this article.

Drug details

Here are some details about venlafaxine:

Read on to learn about venlafaxine and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions.

As with all medications, the cost of venlafaxine can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.

To find out what the cost of venlafaxine will be for you, talk with your doctor about where to buy venlafaxine. They may be able to suggest cost savings options such as using a mail-order pharmacy.

You can also ask your pharmacist or insurance provider about the cost of the drug.

Note: If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers venlafaxine. This means the company and your doctor will discuss venlafaxine 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 venlafaxine requires prior authorization.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and venlafaxine.

How can I determine the cost of venlafaxine without insurance?

The cost of venlafaxine without insurance depends on several important factors. These include:

  • the condition venlafaxine is being used to treat and your treatment plan
  • the dosage form of venlafaxine you’re prescribed (immediate-release tablets or extended-release oral capsules or oral tablets)
  • the pharmacy you use
  • the size of the supply (30 days versus 90 days)

Your cost for venlafaxine without insurance may also depend on the dosage you’re prescribed. For example, the cost of venlafaxine 150 milligrams (mg) without insurance may be different than the cost of venlafaxine 225 mg without insurance.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the cost of venlafaxine without insurance. Your doctor can also discuss whether getting a 90-day supply of venlafaxine may save you on the cost of the drug.

What’s the cost of 225-mg venlafaxine ER tablets?

The cost of 225-mg venlafaxine extended-release (ER) tablets depends on different factors.

Your cost depends on whether you’re paying out of pocket or have insurance coverage. The cost of venlafaxine with insurance may be lower than the out-of-pocket cost of the medication.

The total cost may also depend on your treatment plan and the condition being treated with 225-mg venlafaxine ER tablets.

If you have insurance coverage, you may have a set copay (the amount you must pay) or pay a percentage of the total drug cost. You may also have to meet certain prior authorization requirements for venlafaxine. This includes other dosages and dosage forms of the drug. This can affect the price you pay.

When paying out of pocket, your cost can vary based on the pharmacy you choose and your treatment plan.

Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one) what you can expect to pay per month for 225-mg venlafaxine ER tablets.

Does venlafaxine cost more than desvenlafaxine?

Maybe. This depends on your individual circumstances.

In some instances, the cost of venlafaxine may be higher than the cost of desvenlafaxine. This depends on why it’s prescribed, the dosage form of the drug, the dosage, and whether you have insurance coverage. In other cases, desvenlafaxine may cost more.

If you have insurance coverage, you may have to meet certain prior authorization requirements for your plan. And the plan may only cover one medication.

Desvenlafaxine is also an antidepressant that belongs to a class of drugs called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Desvenlafaxine is only approved to treat major depressive disorder.

Desvenlafaxine may be used off-label to treat other conditions. If you’re prescribed venlafaxine and you’re interested in desvenlafaxine, ask your doctor for more information. They can tell you how these medications compare, including their cost.

Venlafaxine is a generic drug, which means it’s an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. 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.

Venlafaxine is available in different dosage forms and strengths, which may affect your cost for the medication.

Venlafaxine comes in the following forms:

  • venlafaxine hydrochloride oral tablets
  • venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release (ER) oral tablets
  • venlafaxine hydrochloride ER oral capsules
  • venlafaxine besylate monohydrate ER oral tablets

Venlafaxine is available as the brand-name drug Effexor XR. If your doctor has prescribed venlafaxine and you’re interested in using Effexor XR 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 brand-name drug compares with the cost of venlafaxine, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Keep in mind that you may hear the different forms of venlafaxine referred to by their full names, as mentioned above.

If you take venlafaxine 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 venlafaxine. 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

Venlafaxine 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.

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 venlafaxine, consider looking into websites that offer cost resources and information. Two such organizations are:

These sites can provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services.

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

Here are some other resources you may find helpful:

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.