Vyvanse

Introduction

Written by Kirstyn Hill, PharmD, MPH
Medically reviewed by Melissa Badowski, PharmD, MPH, FCCP
Updated on May 1, 2024

Vyvanse is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and binge eating disorder (BED). It’s available as the generic version lisdexamfetamine dimesylate. The cost of Vyvanse, with or without insurance, can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon. 

Read on to learn about Vyvanse and its cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Vyvanse, 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 Vyvanse

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the quantity you‘re prescribed
• the drug form you’re prescribed

To find out how much Vyvanse 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 Vyvanse” section.

Coupons for Vyvanse

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

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any 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 Vyvanse

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 Vyvanse. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Vyvanse. 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.
• 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

Vyvanse is a brand-name medication. Its generic versions are shown in the table below:

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.

If your doctor has prescribed Vyvanse, but you’re interested in taking lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, let them know. They may have a reason to prescribe one medication over the other. Also, check which forms of the drug your insurance plan covers, as it may not cover all medications.

To learn how the cost of Vyvanse compares with its generic version, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about Vyvanse and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Vyvanse.  

How much does Vyvanse cost without insurance?

The cost of Vyvanse without insurance depends on multiple factors. Factors include which pharmacy you use, the amount you’re prescribed, and the drug form you’re prescribed. The prices shown above on this page reflect the drug’s cost without insurance and with an Optum Perks coupon applied.

If you’d like to know more about the cost of Vyvanse without insurance, talk with your pharmacist.

Why are costs 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. 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.)

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.

What to ask about Vyvanse

This article provides cost information related to Vyvanse. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for Vyvanse.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• Do Vyvanse oral chewable tablets cost more than Vyvanse oral capsules?
• Are there lower cost medications that can treat my condition?
• Will my dosage of Vyvanse affect the cost of my prescription?

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   
• Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) capsules and chewable tablets, for oral use, CII. (2023). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/021977s050,208510s007lbl.pdf

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.