How much is diazepam (Valium) without insurance?

Is diazepam covered by insurance? | How much does diazepam cost without insurance? | How to get diazepam without insurance

Better known by its brand-name version Valium, diazepam is a generic prescription drug that treats anxiety disorders, anxiety symptoms, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, muscle spasms, and seizures. It’s also FDA approved as a non-opioid general sedative and is sometimes used as an injection before medical procedures such as colonoscopy. 

Healthcare professionals also use diazepam injections for life-threatening seizures. Because of diazepam’s widespread use and sedative effects, healthcare professionals prescribe it off-label for a variety of medical and mental health problems including insomnia, night terrors, panic attacks, sleepwalking, serotonin syndrome, and benzodiazepine withdrawal. 

Belonging to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, diazepam works by slowing down the brain. By doing so, diazepam calms the brain, induces drowsiness, and helps prevent muscle spasms and seizures. Diazepam comes in a variety of formats: tablets, oral solution, rectal gel, nasal spray, or injections.

Related: Valium dosage 

What is the brand name for diazepam?

Diazepam is the active ingredient in Valium, but brand-name Valium costs about ten times more than generic Valium. Diastat Acudial and Diastat Pediatric are the brand-name versions of diazepam rectal gel. Valtoco is the brand-name version of diazepam nasal spray and is not available as a generic.

Is diazepam covered by insurance?

Diazepam is such a widely-prescribed and established medication, most people with health insurance, Medicare Part D, Medicaid, VA, or Tricare are covered for its use. Most insurance plans put diazepam in their lowest copay tiers, but unusual formats such as rectal gel or nasal spray may be in higher copay tiers or not covered at all. 

How much does diazepam cost without insurance?

People paying the average retail price for diazepam can purchase 30, 5 mg tablets for $17. For most medical conditions, people will take two to four doses per day. That means 30 tablets can last one to two weeks depending on the dose schedule. When this is accounted for, a month of diazepam treatment typically costs $34 to $68. Diazepam is not intended for long-term use, so refills will likely be limited.

For people needing to save money, other treatment options may be lower priced. Alternative benzodiazepines are more expensive. Some, like generic Klonopin (clonazepam), generic Xanax (alprazolam), and generic Ativan (lorazepam), are close in price, but still more expensive. 

People prescribed diazepam for anxiety can ask the prescribing healthcare provider about other anxiety drugs such as SSRIs and buspirone. Some are low-priced and have an easier dosing schedule. Most are not controlled substances like diazepam, so there isn’t a risk of drug abuse, addiction, or severe withdrawal symptoms. 

For muscle spasms or seizures, diazepam is used along with other drugs like anticonvulsants or when other drugs are not appropriate. Ask the prescriber for medical advice about lower-cost options if paying for diazepam is challenging.

Some over-the-counter supplements or herbal remedies may help with mild anxiety or worry, but they are not effective substitutes for prescription medications for people with clinical anxiety or seizures.

The cheapest option may be a SingleCare prescription discount card. With a free coupon from SingleCare, 30 diazepam tablets can cost as low as $1. At four doses a day, that adds up to $4. 

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.

How to get diazepam without insurance

Diazepam is a lower-priced generic drug but may be challenging to purchase without insurance when other medical bills are factored in. Patient assistance programs might help, but those programs are usually offered for brand-name drugs. Here are a few strategies to fill a diazepam prescription at the lowest price possible—even for free. The first place to start is a SingleCare prescription discount card. 

1. Pay discounted prices for prescription drugs with SingleCare

People who take a SingleCare savings card to a participating pharmacy can pay as low as $1, $3, $4, or $5 for 30 diazepam tablets. Discount prices will vary by pharmacy, so browse possible savings on SingleCare’s diazepam coupons page. Additional savings and important drug information can be found in the FAQs section on this page.

2. Shop around for the lowest price

People can find significant savings on generic drugs by using SingleCare’s pharmacy finder for a local pharmacy offering the best price. Don’t forget to present a SingleCare prescription discount card (available on the SingleCare app, text, or physical card) for the most savings.

3. Enroll in Medicaid

If both prescription drug prices and other medical bills are a regular challenge, you may be eligible for Medicaid. Some people on Medicaid will pay $0 for diazepam. Find out if you meet the eligibility requirements by visiting your state’s Medicaid website or talking to a local health department representative. 

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