Naltrexone

Introduction

Medically reviewed by Christina Bookwalter PharmD, MS MEd, BCPS, BCACP
Written by Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Updated on October 26, 2023

Naltrexone is a generic medication that’s prescribed for alcohol and opioid dependence. The brand-name version of this drug is Vivitrol. The cost of naltrexone with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.  

Naltrexone comes in these forms: Tablets that you swallow and a solution that is injected into a muscle.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved naltrexone to treat alcohol dependence and opioid dependence.

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

Cost of naltrexone

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of naltrexone

To find out how much naltrexone 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 following section.

Coupons for naltrexone

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of naltrexone. 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 naltrexone

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 naltrexone. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for naltrexone. 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.
• Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of naltrexone injections may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because naltrexone doses are given by a doctor or another healthcare professional. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan and whether you receive the doses at your doctor’s clinic or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re taking naltrexone 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.

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.

Generics vs. brand names

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

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. An active drug is the ingredient that makes medication work. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re believed to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

If your doctor has prescribed naltrexone but you’re interested in taking Vivitrol, let them know. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers only one version of the drug.

To learn how the cost of naltrexone compares with its brand-name version, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about naltrexone and cost

Here are some common questions about naltrexone and their answers.  

Is naltrexone covered by Medicare?

Possibly. Medicare’s coverage of naltrexone will depend on the form of naltrexone you are receiving and your specific Medicare plan. For example, naltrexone tablets would be billed through your prescription drug coverage. But naltrexone injections may be billed through your medical coverage since they are given by a healthcare professional.

If you have questions about whether Medicare will cover naltrexone, you should contact your insurance plan administrator. 

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 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 drug in a brand-name medication. An active drug is the ingredient that makes medication work.

This competition may help keep the costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs 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.

What to ask about naltrexone

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

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:

• How does the cost of naltrexone compare to other medications that treat my condition?
• Can I get a bigger quantity to lower the price of naltrexone?
• What are my options if I cannot afford my medication?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Naltrexone Hydrochloride tablet. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/7e126353-8d94-4163-b7f5-dc7c47e685b2/spl-doc
• Vivitrol (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension), for intramuscular use. (2022). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/021897s057lbl.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.