I just started taking it (samples) and it seems to be working, but I can't afford $150 a month.
Is there a generic for Pristiq? My insurance co-pay is $150!?
- Asked
- 9 Mar 2010 by helpforme
- Updated
- 16 Mar 2010
- Topics
- pristiq
Responses (1)
HelpforMe-
Unfortunately, there is not a generic version of Pristiq available. Moreover, one will not be available for AT LEAST 5-7 years (depending on the amount of time they spent on research and clinical trial, which was probably not that much time, since it is merely the "active" stereoisomer of "Effexor"). That is, it just entered the "pharmaceutical market" last January (I believe that is the correct month), so it's only been a little more than 1 year since it has been running on it's pillow of patent-comfort.
I have two suggestions for you, however. First of all, ask your doctor if he or she has any of the discount cards for Pristiq (and if your doctor doesn't, you can probably get one from the pharmaceutical company itself). I was given one when I started taking it, and it automatically cuts whatever your copay (or final amount charged) that you have to pay for the prescription by 50%! It is a card-shaped CD, which you run in your computer to set-up, and then make-sure to take it to the pharmacy each time you refill your Rx (type in "Pristiq A New Day Program" into Google, and you may be able to obtain a card that way).
Secondly, if $75 a month for 30 pills is still too much (and I know how it goes!), then you may want to consider asking your doctor about trying regular Effexor XR? Have you tried it already? If not, it is worth a try, because (as I mentioned above) Pristiq is simply the active stereoisomer--in an extended-release form--of the drug Effexor. In fact, Pristiq was most certainly marketed specifically (at least one of the major factors) due to the ending of the patent for Effexor XR; thus, Effexor XR is available as a generic, and you would simply need to take twice the dosage of the amount of Pristiq that is working for you (i.e., if you take 50mg Pristiq per day, you would take 1 100mg Effexor XR a day). As a final note, you may want to talk to your doctor about any possible differences between the 2 in terms of efficacy and side effects, as there may be some differences that are fairly common (e.g., although this may not be comparable now, I originally could only take Effexor for 3 days before having to quit due to side effects... however, that was more than 4 years ago, and when I started Pristiq a little less than a year ago, I felt the same side effects--to a milder degree--for the first 2-3 days. Since then, the side effects have subsided).
I hope that this can be of some help to you, and I definitely wish you luck in trying to find a way to obtain the medication that works for you without your insurance company making you work just in order to pay for your prescription!
Take care-
Kiera

Further Information
- Pristiq Information for Consumers
- Pristiq Information for Healthcare Professionals (includes dosage details)
- Side Effects of Pristiq (detailed)
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
Similar Questions
Is there a generic form of the oxycotin 30 mllgrm? I have no insurance and have to pay cash!?
Posted 6 Jan 2011 • 2 answers
Does anyone know if the company endo generic products help pay for endocet for thoese of us who do?
Posted 6 Dec 2011 • 2 answers
I was prescribed bystolic and with my insurance its still $150.00 mo. and?
Posted 25 Jul 2013 • 2 answers
I've taken Cymbalta for pain. My insurance co-pay has gone way up on this drug. Is there a generic?
Posted 23 Nov 2013 • 4 answers
I have started taking Pristiq and my insurance does not cover this. Is there a generic version?
Posted 29 Apr 2014 • 1 answer
Thank you so much for your help, I will talk to my doctor about Effexor.
No problem... good luck, and certainly feel free to let me know if you have any other questions. Otherwise, let us know how everything works out!
Good luck!
Take care,
Kiera
As you know there is not a generic BUT the drug company does have a discount card - I use it along with my insurance so my Pristiq is $25.00/month. Go to Pristiq's web site and sign up for one
CWILLS is exactly right... I wasn't sure about whether or not the "New Day" Program and the discount card (which reduces whatever final cost you have to pay--after your insurance covers its portion (so, your copay... which, with the card, would be $75 a month to stay on Pristiq)--for your prescription by 50%) because my physician actually gave me one when I started the medication. This is exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned a "CD that is also a card;" I'm sure that must have been confusing. Here is the specific site for the free Pristiq program, "A New Day," which mails me helpful information and other materials about every 2-3 months:
https://www.pristiq.com/savings-support
Expand...
Thanks CWILLS for stating that more clearly! You can definitely get a card from your doctor or the pharmaceutical company (which is Wyeth, but Wyeth is now part of Pfizer... CWILLS, do you have a link for the site where a person can sign-up to receive the card that gives us and other people who take Pristiq 50% off of our final price?) which you simply bring with you to the pharmacy each time you pick-up your monthly prescription, and it will cut your current copay in half (and as far as I know, it does not expire... if it does expire, it takes a good amount of time, b/c I have used the same original card for every refill since my first Rx).
Definitely see if you can budget for that (i.e., $75 a month... or, if you have a cool doctor, there may be a way that he could write you a double script each time--but if you are taking the 50mg dosage, that won't work), b/c almost everyone who has been in our situation knows how difficult it can be to find a medication that actually works well (and to have to give it up due to the cost would be a huge shame... ).
Again, keep us posted on what you are able to work-out with your doctor or what you can find-out--or perhaps CWILLS can provide--regarding the discount card (I am not sure if it is part of the "A New Day" program or not, but I would definitely recommend signing-up for it in either case).
Take care in the meantime!
Kiera