Nuplazid (pimavanserin) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat certain potential symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Nuplazid’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.

Nuplazid is used in adults to treat hallucinations and delusions caused by Parkinson’s psychosis. The drug is available as an oral tablet and capsule.

For more details on Nuplazid, see this in-depth article.

The price you pay for Nuplazid can vary. It may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage (if you have it), and the pharmacy you use.

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

Nuplazid only comes as a brand-name drug. It’s not currently available in a generic version. A generic contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication but tends to cost less.

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 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.

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

Does Nuplazid cost less than alternative drugs that treat the same condition?

It’s possible. Nuplazid is an atypical antipsychotic and is the only FDA-approved medication used to treat Parkinson’s psychosis. There are other atypical antipsychotics that may be able to treat your condition off label. (With off-label use, a drug is prescribed for a condition it isn’t approved to treat.)

If you have questions about taking a different medication than Nuplazid, talk with your doctor.

Is Nuplazid covered by Medicare?

It may be. Whether Nuplazid is covered by Medicare will depend on your specific Medicare plan.

If you have questions about the cost of Nuplazid, talk with your Medicare insurance provider.

If you take Nuplazid 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 Nuplazid if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower your cost for Nuplazid. 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 Nuplazid. 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.

A drug assistance program called Acadia Connect is available for Nuplazid. For more details and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 844-737-2223 or visit the program website.

The below websites also include 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 Nuplazid, 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 Nuplazid.

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

  • Can I change how often I take Nuplazid to lower the cost?
  • Are there other medications to treat my condition that cost less?
  • Is there a cost difference between Nuplazid capsules and tablets?

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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.