Vraylar

Introduction

Written by Julz Richterman, PharmD, MBA, BCGP
Medically reviewed by Paul Hetrick, PharmD
Updated on June 21, 2024

Vraylar is a brand-name medication prescribed for certain mental health conditions. Vraylar is not available in a generic version. The cost of Vraylar, with or without insurance, can depend on several factors. Using a coupon might lower the cost.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Vraylar for:

• schizophrenia
• major depressive disorders (depression)
• bipolar depression in adults with bipolar I disorder
• mixed or manic episodes in adults with bipolar I disorder

Read on to learn about Vraylar and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Vraylar, including its uses, refer to this overview article. 

Need a diagnosis or prescription quickly? For certain health conditions, Optum Perks offers personalized on-demand care with no appointment required. For $25, answer a few questions online and receive a diagnosis and treatment plan from a board certified healthcare professional in 15 minutes or less. Get started here.

Cost of Vraylar

Like other medications, the cost of Vraylar can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the dosage prescribed

To find out how much Vraylar costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for Vraylar” section.

Coupons for Vraylar

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of Vraylar. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for Vraylar

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization: If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of Vraylar. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Vraylar. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply: If you’re taking Vraylar long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.
• Savings accounts: If you’re eligible for a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), you can likely use funds from these accounts to pay for your prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. HSA and FSA plans help people save money by using pretax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as prescription and OTC drugs. To learn more about whether you’re eligible for these savings accounts and how to use them, talk with your insurance provider or employer.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Brand names vs. generics

Vraylar is a brand-name medication. It’s not available as a generic version.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) 

Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about generic and brand-name medications. 

Why costs are different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can patent and sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions.

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Common questions about Vraylar and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Vraylar.  

Is Vraylar covered by Medicare?

Probably. There are several types of Medicare plans. If you have a Medicare Part D prescription plan, it’s likely that Vraylar will be covered by Medicare. But your copay depends on the specific plan you have.

Because Vraylar is only available as a brand-name drug, it may be on a higher tier of the formulary. A formulary is a list of drugs Medicare Part D plans cover. Usually, your copay is higher for drugs that are on higher tiers.

To find out if your Medicare plan covers Vraylar, talk with your plan representative or your pharmacist.

How much does Vraylar cost without insurance?

The cost of Vraylar without insurance can be high. This is because Vraylar is only available as a brand-name drug. Brand-name drugs tend to be more expensive than drugs with generic versions. Prescription drug coupons or assistance programs may help lower your monthly cost. See the “Coupons for Vraylar” section for more information.

You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out more about ways to save on medications, such as Vraylar.

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm    
• Vraylar (cariprazine) capsules, for oral use. (2024). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/3435ec73-86ed-46d1-bd1f-ee6c30209123/spl-doc?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks 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.