How much is doxycycline (Vibramycin) without insurance?

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

Doxycycline is a generic prescription antibiotic that treats various bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), Lyme disease, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. As with all antibiotics, doxycycline is not used to treat viral infections. People take doxycycline as a tablet or capsule. For severe infections, it is sometimes given as an injection by a healthcare professional. Antibiotic treatment, including doxycycline therapy, usually lasts briefly, around seven to 14 days. The short duration of treatment will limit costs. However, doxycycline may be prescribed for longer periods for acne, rosacea, or periodontitis. In those cases, the long-term cost of doxycycline may be more challenging to manage.

There are two types of doxycycline; doxycycline hyclate and doxycycline monohydrate. Many prescribers will not specify because, in most cases, they work the same. However, a few cases exist where one type should be used. Make sure to clarify with your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are unsure which type of doxycycline best fits your needs. 

Related: Doxycycline side effects

What is the brand name for doxycycline?

Vibramycin is the original brand-name version of doxycycline and is still available as a tablet, capsule, syrup, and injection solution. The retail price is slightly higher than generic doxycycline. Other brand names include delayed-release Doryx, immediate-release Acticlate and Targadox, and the injection Doxy 100. A low-dose version of doxycycline monohydrate, slightly different from doxycycline hyclate, is sold under the brand name Oracea and is FDA-approved to treat acne or rosacea. 

Is doxycycline covered by insurance?

As a commonly prescribed antibiotic, doxycycline is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare Part D drug plans, Medicaid, the VA, and Tricare. The out-of-pocket cost is hard to predict. While some insurance plan formularies put doxycycline in their lowest copay tiers, others put it in higher tiers. Don’t be surprised if the out-of-pocket cost of doxycycline is higher than other common generic antibiotics. 

Not all drugs called “doxycycline” are the same drug. Doxycycline monohydrate is a slightly different chemical version from doxycycline. The two drugs are often used interchangeably. There are a few conditions where healthcare providers may want to use one formulation over the other. The insurance copay tier may differ between the two.

How much does doxycycline cost without insurance?

Without insurance, the average retail price for 20, 100 mg tablets of doxycycline is about $120. That’s about $6 per tablet. The doxycycline dosage is usually one oral capsule or tablet taken once or twice daily. That means 20 tablets could last from 10 to 20 days, depending on the infection being treated. For long-term treatment—such as periodontitis, acne, or malaria prevention—a 30-day supply will probably cost about $180.

Doxycycline belongs to a family of drugs called tetracycline antibiotics. If the price of doxycycline seems high compared with other common antibiotics like amoxicillin or cephalexin, remember that doxycycline is the lowest-priced tetracycline treatment option. Minocycline is comparably priced to doxycycline. It also costs about $180 for a 30-day supply (60, 100 mg capsules). A 14-day prescription of tetracycline capsules (56, 100 mg capsules) costs over $700. Demeclocycline costs about $500 for two weeks of treatment (48, 300 mg tablets). 

If the affordability of doxycycline is a concern, ask the prescribing healthcare provider for medical advice about lower-cost alternatives. It may be possible to switch to a different antibiotic to save money. However, other antibiotics may have different effects than doxycycline. Or they may not be appropriate for the type of infection being treated. When choosing the right antibiotic, side effects, drug interactions, and allergic reactions are important concerns. 

No over-the-counter medications or supplements can effectively substitute for doxycycline tablets or capsules. No type of antibiotic can be purchased without a prescription.

The cheapest alternative may be to use a SingleCare prescription discount card when filling a doxycycline prescription. Twenty doxycycline 100 mg capsules can cost as little as $3 with a free coupon from SingleCare.

RELATED: Doxycycline alternatives: What can I take instead of doxycycline?

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” link to see the latest drug prices.

How to get doxycycline without insurance

Although the doxycycline price is higher than other common generic antibiotics, it is usually only prescribed for a limited time. This limits the cost for people without insurance. Still, even seven days of doxycycline can be surprisingly high, so any way to maximize savings is welcome. When looking to purchase doxycycline at a low price, start with a SingleCare prescription discount card. Using a SingleCare discount card at participating pharmacies can unlock savings of over 80% on prescription medications.

1. Pay as little as $3 for doxycycline with a SingleCare savings card 

The lowest SingleCare price for 20 doxycycline 100 mg tablets is $3, about $117 off the average pharmacy price. Discount prices will vary by participating pharmacies. Browse the available doxycycline discount prices on SingleCare’s doxycycline coupons page and explore the rest of that page for additional savings and drug information.

2. Shop for the lowest price 

Drugstores charge different prices for the same prescription. Even generic drugs can have significant markups at some pharmacies. For doxycycline, the lowest cash price for 20, 100 mg tablets is $55 lower than the average cash price. That’s almost half off of the average price, so it pays to shop around.

3. Talk to a local healthcare official

Antibiotic treatment is considered necessary and life-saving. The local community may have clinics and resources that provide free or discounted doxycycline or other needed antibiotics. These include community health clinics or local 340B providers. Start by contacting your local health department to help you find these resources.