Key takeaways

  • The cost of Adderall may vary based on your insurance, treatment plan, and pharmacy. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for specifics.
  • Generic Adderall, with amphetamine and dextroamphetamine salts, is usually cheaper than the brand name, potentially reducing costs.
  • To potentially lower long-term drug costs for Adderall, consider using a mail-order pharmacy or exploring websites of organizations that offer assistance with prescription costs, such as NeedyMeds and Medical Assistance Tool (MAT).

Adderall is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy in adults and some children.

The drug is available in two forms:

  • Adderall oral tablets
  • Adderall XR extended-release capsules (“Extended release” means the drug is released slowly into your body over a long period of time.)

This article discusses the cost of both Adderall and Adderall XR. For simplicity, “Adderall” will be used to refer to both forms of the drug (unless otherwise specified).

The price you pay for Adderall may depend on factors such as the form you take, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use. Financial assistance may be available to help you with the cost of Adderall.

Adderall XR retail price
$50
The retail price of Adderall XR is $50.

Several factors affect the price you’ll pay for Adderall. These include:

  • the form your doctor prescribes (Adderall tablets or Adderall XR capsules)
  • your treatment plan
  • your insurance coverage
  • available financial assistance for the drug

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

  • Comparing pharmacies: The price of Adderall may vary depending on which pharmacy you use, so it can help to compare prices across pharmacies to find the lowest cost.
  • Drug coupons: You may be able to find drug coupons on prescription discount websites that can reduce the cost of your medication. These coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits, but the discounted price may be lower than what you’d pay through insurance.
  • Financial assistance: Some websites provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:

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Adderall is available as a generic drug that contains a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which are the active ingredients in Adderall. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.)

A generic contains an exact copy of the active ingredient(s) in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original drug but tends to cost less.

To find out how the costs of Adderall and the generic version of Adderall compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed Adderall and you’re interested in trying the generic version of Adderall instead, talk with your doctor. They may recommend that you take one version instead of the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as 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 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 Adderall long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:

  • Look into getting a 90-day supply: You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Adderall 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 a 90-day supply of Adderall, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
  • Use a mail-order pharmacy: Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Adderall. 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.

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about the cost of Adderall.

How much will my Adderall prescription cost without insurance?

Adderall’s price without insurance can vary based on several factors, including the pharmacy you use.

To learn more about the cost you’ll pay for your Adderall prescription without insurance, talk with your pharmacist or doctor. You can also check out the “Adderall cost and savings” section to learn more about lowering your prescription costs.

Is the price of higher doses of Adderall or Adderall XR, such as the 30-mg and 25-mg strengths, more expensive than lower doses?

Maybe. The price you pay for Adderall, including your out-of-pocket cost (the amount not covered by insurance that you’re responsible for paying), can vary. Your price is based on a few factors, including the pharmacy you use and your insurance coverage (if you have it).

To learn more about the cost you’ll pay for your Adderall prescription, talk with your pharmacist, insurance provider, or doctor.

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.