Bupropion is a generic prescription drug that’s used to treat depression. Bupropion’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.

Bupropion is used in adults to treat:

Bupropion is available in three oral tablet forms†:

  • immediate release, usually referred to simply as “oral tablet”
  • extended release (XL)
  • sustained release (SR)

With XL and SR tablets, the drug is slowly released into your body over a long period of time. The drug is released more slowly with SR tablets than with XL tablets.

Bupropion is also available as the brand-name drugs Aplenzin, Forfivo XL, and Wellbutrin SR and XL. For more details on Bupropion, see this in-depth article.

* Only bupropion XL is approved to treat seasonal affective disorder.

† Buproprion previously had a form that was used for smoking cessation. It has been discontinued.

The price you pay for bupropion can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.

To find out how much you’ll pay for bupropion, 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 bupropion. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss bupropion in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If bupropion 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 bupropion requires prior authorization.

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

Does the 150-mg strength of bupropion cost less than the 300-mg strength?

It’s possible that there’s a slight cost difference between the different strengths of buproprion XL, although it’s likely that the difference is small. Buproprion XL is available in strengths of 150 milligrams (mg), 300 mg, and 450 mg.

The cost you’ll pay for any strength of bupropion can depend on several factors including your insurance coverage (if you have it), the form of bupropion you’re taking, and the pharmacy you use.

If you have questions about the cost of bupropion, talk with your pharmacist or your insurance provider. They will be able to help you understand how much it will cost.

How much does Bupropion cost without insurance?

The cost of bupropion without insurance depends on several factors. But in general, your cost will likely be higher without insurance.

Your cost for bupropion may depend on factors such as:

  • your dosage
  • whether you qualify for any savings programs
  • the pharmacy you choose
  • the supply of medication you receive (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)

To find out the exact cost of Bupropion without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Also, you may want to check with a few pharmacies to compare prices.

You can also visit the following pages on Optum Perks* to get price estimates for bupropion when you use coupons from the site. The coupons for each form can be found on the following Optum Perks pages:

It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.

Bupropion is a generic drug. A generic 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 drug but tends to cost less.

Bupropion is available as the brand-name drugs Aplenzin, Forfivo XL, Wellbutrin SR, and Wellbutrin XL. To find out how the costs of the brand-name drugs compare with bupropion, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed bupropion and you’re interested in taking one of the brand-name drugs instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you take one version instead of the other. In addition, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider. This is because it may only cover one drug or the other.

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 manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug exclusively 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 bupropion 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 bupropion if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of bupropion. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
  • Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for bupropion. 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.

If you need help covering the cost of bupropion 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 questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

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

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

  • Will taking a different dose of bupropion affect its cost?
  • Can you recommend a different pharmacy that might charge less for my medication?
  • What are my options if I cannot afford my medication?

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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.