If you’re looking at treatment options for certain mental health conditions, you may want to learn more about Abilify (aripiprazole). It’s a prescription drug used to treat:

Abilify is available in several different brand-name versions:

  • Abilify comes as a tablet that you swallow.
  • Abilify MyCite comes as a tablet with a sensor that you swallow.*
  • Abilify Maintena comes as an extended-release liquid suspension. In this case, a powder is dissolved in water to form a liquid suspension. The suspension is given as an injection into your muscle by a healthcare professional. Extended release means the drug releases slowly into your system over time.

* Abilify MyCite tablets contain a sensor. After you swallow the tablet, the sensor sends a signal to a patch worn on your belly. The patch connects to an app on your smartphone. After the patch receives a signal from the sensor, the app records that you’ve taken your dose of the drug. This sensor is made of natural ingredients and breaks down in your body after you take the tablet.

The active ingredient in all forms of Abilify is aripiprazole. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Aripiprazole belongs to a group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. Different forms of the drug are used to treat specific conditions in certain age groups:

  • Abilify Maintena and Abilify MyCite are used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder in adults.
  • Abilify Mycite is also used to treat major depressive disorder in adults.
  • For bipolar I disorder, Abilify MyCite may be used along with another drug, such as lithium or valproate.

Keep reading for details on Abilify and cost, and how to save money on prescriptions.

Note: For more details on Abilify, see this in-depth article.

The price you pay for Abilify can vary. It may depend on several factors, such as:

  • your treatment plan
  • the form of the drug you take
  • your insurance coverage (if you have it)
  • the pharmacy you use

If you need an Abilify Maintena injection, this may also add to your cost. This is because you may have to pay for a visit to a doctor’s office or clinic to get your injection.

To find out how much you’ll pay for Abilify, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Note: If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover Abilify. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Abilify in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Abilify requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.

Be sure to ask your insurance company whether Abilify requires prior authorization.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Abilify and cost.

Will the cost of Abilify, Abilify MyCite, or Abilify Maintena vary depending on the dosage I’m prescribed?

It’s possible. In some cases, your cost for Abilify, Abilify MyCite, or Abilify Maintena can vary based on your dosage and treatment plan. You’ll likely pay more if you don’t have insurance, or if your insurance plan doesn’t cover the form of Abilify you’re prescribed.

Abilify comes in different dosage forms and strengths, including:

  • Abilify Maintena extended-release injection suspension*: 300 milligrams (mg), 400 mg
  • Abilify MyCite oral tablet with sensor†: 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg
  • Abilify oral tablet: 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg

* With this form, a powder is dissolved in water to form a liquid suspension. It’s given as an injection into your muscle by a healthcare professional. Extended release means the drug releases slowly into your system over time.
† Abilify MyCite tablets contain a sensor. After you swallow the tablet, the sensor sends a signal to a patch worn on your belly. The patch connects to an app on your smartphone. After the patch receives a signal from the sensor, the app records that you’ve taken your dose of the drug. This sensor is made of natural ingredients and breaks down in your body after you take the tablet.

Abilify Maintena comes in higher strengths than Abilify MyCite and Abilify oral tablets. This is because the drug is injected monthly and releases slowly into your system after it’s injected. But Abilify MyCite and Abilify oral tablets contain smaller strengths that are taken daily.

For this reason, the cost of Abilify Maintena may be higher than Abilify MyCite and Abilify oral tablets. Another factor that affects cost is the need to go to a doctor’s office or clinic to receive Abilify Maintena injections. This means you’ll have to pay a separate fee for the appointments in addition to the price of the drug.

The cost of Abilify MyCite may also be higher than the equivalent dosage of Abilify tablets. This is because Abilify MyCite is a special dosage form that comes with a sensor to track when you’ve taken your dose.

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about the different forms, dosages, and costs for each kind of Abilify.

How much does Abilify cost per month without insurance?

It’s likely that your cost for Abilify without insurance will be higher than your cost with insurance. Your cost per month without insurance depends on several factors, including:

  • the form of the drug you take
  • your treatment plan
  • whether you qualify for any cost-savings programs

Your out-of-pocket cost per month can also vary depending on which pharmacy you use. If you don’t have insurance coverage, check around with a few pharmacies for the best price.

There may be cost-savings options available if you don’t have insurance. Check out “Can I get help paying for Abilify?” below. And talk with your doctor or pharmacist about any other programs that may exist.

Abilify is available as the generic drug aripiprazole. A generic drug contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original brand-name drug but usually costs less.

To find out how the costs of Abilify and aripiprazole compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed Abilify and you’re interested in taking aripiprazole instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you take one version of the drug instead of the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider. This is because it may only cover one drug or the other.

Abilify Maintena and Abilify MyCite are only available as brand-name drugs, they don’t have generic versions.

Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?

Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The drugmaker of a brand-name drug can sell the drug for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.

If you take Abilify long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:

Look into getting a 90-day supply of your medication. You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Abilify if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of the drug. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of Abilify, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Abilify MyCite is only available through specialty pharmacies. If you’re prescribed Abilify MyCite, check out this website for information about cost savings that may be available. You can also talk with your doctor and specialty pharmacist about other options that may exist.

Abilify Maintena is only available by visiting your doctor’s office or a clinic.

Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Abilify. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug through mail order. If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.

Yes, there are certain cost-savings programs available for those who qualify.

A savings card is available for Abilify tablets. To learn more, visit the drugmaker’s website. You can also text “FIVE” to 37500 or call 888-922-4543.

You may be eligible for cost savings with Abilify MyCite. You can visit this website for details.

Abilify Maintena has a savings card for those who are eligible. See the program website for more information.

For more information on cost assistance or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:

On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.

If you have other questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you still have questions about the cost of Abilify, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay based on the form of the drug you’re prescribed. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for Abilify.

Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:

  • Is there a big cost difference between generic and brand-name Abilify?
  • Will my cost for Abilify depend on the form of the drug I’m prescribed?
  • Would I save on the cost of Abilify if I got a 90-day supply?

To learn more about Abilify, see these articles:

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Disclaimer: Healthline 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.