Nuplazid (pimavanserin) is a brand-name drug prescribed for hallucinations or delusions due to Parkinson’s disease. It’s available as an oral tablet or capsule. The cost of Nuplazid with and without insurance can depend on several factors.
Specifically, Nuplazid is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hallucinations or delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis in adults. Parkinson’s disease is a condition that occurs primarily in adults over 55 years of age.
For more information about Nuplazid, refer to this article.
As with all medications, the cost of Nuplazid can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:
- your treatment plan
- your insurance coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- whether Nuplazid has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)
To find out what the cost of Nuplazid will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or look below in the next section to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.
To save money on your Nuplazid prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
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Simply show the Optum Perks coupon at your preferred pharmacy or order online and instantly save up to 80% without using insurance. The coupon doesn’t expire, so be sure to save it for refills.
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Nuplazid is only available as a brand-name drug. It doesn’t come in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication.
Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.
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 Nuplazid 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 Nuplazid. 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
Nuplazid 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 Nuplazid or help to understand your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:
- A program called Acadia Connect is available for Nuplazid. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 844-737-2223 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:
To learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance, check out this article.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Nuplazid.
Is Nuplazid covered by Medicare?
It may be. You can call your Medicare plan provider to learn whether your particular plan covers the cost of this drug. There are many types of Medicare plans, so your coverage and what you pay for prescriptions will be based on your particular plan’s benefits. You may also need to obtain prior authorization before your plan will cover the cost of this medication.
Your doctor may also be able to provide information about your cost for Nuplazid if you have Medicare. For more information on Nuplazid and your Medicare plan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
What is the cost of Nuplazid without insurance?
The price you’ll pay for Nuplazid if you don’t have insurance can vary based on several factors. But typically, the cost is higher for those without insurance.
Other factors could affect what you pay for this drug. These include:
- the quantity you’re prescribed (such as a 90-day or 30-day supply)
- whether you apply and qualify for available savings programs
- your dosage
- the pharmacy you use
- the form of the drug you’re prescribed (such as the oral tablet or capsule)
To learn the exact cost you’d pay for this medication without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You may also want to contact several pharmacies to compare their prices for Nuplazid.
Check out Optum Perks* for estimates of Nuplazid’s price when using coupons from the site. (Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance benefits or copays.)
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.
How does Nuplazid’s cost compare to medications such as Seroquel or Clozaril?
The price you’ll pay for Nuplazid versus that of Seroquel (quetiapine) or Clozaril (clozapine) depends on various factors.
For instance, the form of the drug may affect its price. Nuplazid, Clozaril, and Seroquel are all available as oral tablets. However, Nuplazid is also available as an oral capsule, and Seroquel is available as an extended-release oral tablet. The form, along with the specific drug that you’re prescribed, may affect how much you pay for the medication.
In addition, Nuplazid is currently the only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hallucinations or delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease. Seroquel and Clozaril are not FDA-approved for this use.
However, your doctor may prescribe either drug off-label for this purpose. If you have insurance, your insurance provider may not cover the cost of off-label prescriptions. For this reason, the price of Seroquel or Clozaril may be higher than Nuplazid for your condition.
There are other factors that can affect your prescription cost, including:
- whether there are payment assistance programs for your prescribed treatment
- whether you’re paying out of pocket or have insurance
To learn more about the cost of Nuplazid compared with other treatments for your condition, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive Nuplazid.
If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Nuplazid. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Nuplazid 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 Nuplazid requires prior authorization.
Now that you’ve learned about cost and Nuplazid, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Nuplazid. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for Nuplazid.
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 Nuplazid, refer to this article.
- Information about your condition. For more information about Parkinson’s disease, see our Parkinson’s disease hub.
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.