Prozac (fluoxetine) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat certain mood and eating disorders. Prozac’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.

Prozac belongs to a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. It comes as a capsule that you swallow.

Doctors prescribe Prozac for adults and some children to treat:

They also prescribe Prozac for adults with:

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

* For these conditions, Prozac is prescribed together with olanzapine (Zyprexa, Zyprexa Zydis).

The price you pay for Prozac can vary. Your cost 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 Prozac, 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 Prozac. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Prozac in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Prozac 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 Prozac requires prior authorization.

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

Does the 20-mg capsule of Prozac cost less than the 40-mg capsule?

Possibly. Different drug strengths sometimes vary in price. The cost difference between the 20-milligram (mg) capsules and 40-mg capsules will likely depend on your health insurance coverage and the pharmacy you choose. To find out the exact price you’ll pay for your strength of Prozac, talk with your insurance provider or pharmacist.

How does the cost of Prozac compare with the cost of Zoloft?

It depends. Prozac and Zoloft (sertraline) are both selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) medications. They’re prescribed to treat some of the same conditions, including depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Both drugs are available as generic versions. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

The price you’ll pay for either medication will depend on your health insurance and the pharmacy you use. To find out your cost, talk with your insurance provider or pharmacist.

Prozac is available as the generic drug fluoxetine. 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 often costs less.

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

If you’ve been prescribed Prozac and you’re interested in taking fluoxetine 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 for up to 20 years. After that, other drug manufacturers 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 Prozac 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 Prozac if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Prozac. 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 Prozac. 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 Prozac 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 Prozac, 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 Prozac.

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

  • Is fluoxetine cheaper than Prozac?
  • If I can’t afford my medication, what options do I have?
  • Are there other drugs that cost less than Prozac that could treat my condition?
  • Does the cost of Prozac depend on the condition it’s being used to treat?

To learn more about Prozac, see these articles:

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

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.