How much is Qsymia without insurance?

In this article:

• How much does Qsymia cost?
• Qsymia cost by dose
• Does insurance cover Qsymia?
• How to save without insurance

In this article

• How much does Qsymia cost?
• Qsymia cost by dose
• Does insurance cover Qsymia?
• How to save without insurance

Qsymia (a combination pill with both phentermine and topiramate) is a brand-name prescription medicine used along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management. The drug can be purchased from retail pharmacies or at a discount from a single home delivery mail-order specialty pharmacy. The average retail price for a 30-day supply of Qsymia is $311. Generic phentermine is not as safe as Qsymia, but the price is lower. 

Related: What is Qsymia?

How much does brand-name Qsymia cost?

The cost of Qsymia therapy is around $311 a month without health insurance coverage. The actual cost will depend on the individual pharmacy. 

The active ingredients in Qsymia are both low-dose phentermine and topiramate. There are no generic medications that combine low-dose phentermine with topiramate. The generic version of phentermine alone is not an equivalent substitute because of the higher risk of adverse effects. Qsymia is a safer medication than phentermine tablets. The dosage strength of generic phentermine (37.5 mg) is much higher than the amount of phentermine in the recommended dosage of Qsymia (7.5 mg). 

Phentermine is a potentially hazardous drug that can cause serious side effects including medication tolerance, and drug abuse. Qsymia capsules contain a low dose of phentermine. The topiramate compensates for the greatly reduced phentermine dose. A medical provider can only prescribe generic phentermine for a few weeks because of potential adverse events and drug interactions. On the other hand, the Food and Drug Administration has approved Qsymia treatment for long-term weight management.

Compare Qsymia prices to related drugs
Drug name	Price without insurance of brand-name drug	SingleCare price	Savings options
Qsymia (phentermine-topiramate)	$311 per 30, 7.5-46 mg capsules	$80 per 30, 7.5-46 mg capsules of brand-name Qsymia	See latest prices
Phentermine	$50 per 30, 37.5 mg tablets	$10 per 30, 37.5 mg tablets of generic phentermine	See latest prices
Lomaira (phentermine)	$38 per 30, 8 mg tablets	$22 per 30, 8 mg tablets of brand-name Lomaira	See latest prices
Contrave (bupropion-naltrexone)	$837 per 120, 8-90 mg tablets	$613 per 120, 8-90 mg tablets of brand-name Contrave	See latest prices
Wegovy (semaglutide)	$1,843 per 4, 0.75 mL of 2.4 mg/0.75 mL injectable pens	$1,225 per 4, 0.75 mL of 2.4 mg/0.75 mL injectable pens of brand-name Wegovy	See latest prices
Zepbound (tirzepatide)	$1,513 per 4, 0.5 mL of 2.5 mg/0.5 mL injectable pens	$950 per 4, 0.5 mL of 2.5 mg/0.5 mL injectable pens of brand-name Zepbound	See latest prices

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs, if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.

Qsymia costs by dose

The retail price of Qsymia for cash-paying customers may vary by dosage strength. In addition, the doctor may prescribe a six-week “New Patient Pack” at the start of therapy. It may be priced differently than later 30-day prescriptions. There’s also a titration pack containing different dosage strengths, which may not match the price of a month’s supply of Qsymia.

Compare Qsymia prices by strength
Strength	SingleCare price of brand-name
3.75 mg/23 mg of Qsymia	$77 for 30, 3.75 mg/23 mg capsules of Qsymia
7.5 mg/46 mg of Qsymia	$79 for 30, 7.5 mg/46 mg capsules of Qsymia
11.25 mg/69 mg of Qsymia	$85 for 30, 11.25 mg/69 mg capsules of Qsymia
15 mg/92 mg of Qsymia	$85 for 30, 15 mg/92 mg capsules of Qsymia
See our lowest price for Qsymia without insurance

Is Qsymia covered by insurance?

A majority of health insurance plans cover Qsymia, but not all. Medicare plans do not cover weight loss drugs such as Qsymia. Medicaid coverage varies by state. Qsymia is generally placed in the middle copay tiers for people with health insurance so you can check with your insurance company to find out your out of pocket cost. 

RELATED: What obesity treatments does insurance cover?

How to get Qsymia covered by insurance

Although Qsymia is covered by many insurance plans, approval may require prior authorization. The prescriber will need to submit paperwork to the health insurance company explaining why a Qsymia prescription is necessary. Less commonly, the health plan may require step therapy which involves using other drugs first to see if they work. If the insurance plan does not cover Qsymia, patients can contact the insurance provider and ask about a formulary exception. The paperwork is very similar to a prior authorization.

How to get Qsymia without insurance

Start by reading SingleCare’s article, “4 ways to save on weight-loss medications.” The first two tips suggest exploring manufacturer coupons and patient assistance programs such as the Qsymia Engage Program. However, many people may not meet the strict eligibility requirements. There are more reliable ways to save on weight loss medications starting with a SingleCare prescription discount card.

1. Use a SingleCare savings card

The lowest SingleCare discounted price for Qsymia is only $79 for 30, 7.5-46 mg capsules. This represents a savings of about $230 off the average monthly price. Discount prices will vary at participating pharmacies, so browse available savings on SingleCare’s Qsymia coupons page. Read the FAQs section for additional savings and drug information. While there, make sure to sign up for SingleCare’s loyalty program to earn bonus savings.

2. Shop for the lowest price

Drug prices vary by pharmacy, sometimes by a lot. By using SingleCare’s average price history for Qsymia, people without insurance can quickly find the lowest price at local pharmacies.

3. Ask the prescribing healthcare provider about generic phentermine

The weight loss drug in Qsymia is phentermine, a commonly prescribed obesity medication. The average cost is low. A 30-day supply of generic phentermine costs about $49. A 30-day supply of Lomaira, a low-dose phentermine generic, costs even less.

4. Ask the prescriber about Plenity

One lower-cost alternative for weight management is Plenity. It’s not a drug, though it’s taken before each meal as a capsule. It’s an FDA-cleared medical device available by prescription only. It’s filled with a gel that expands in the stomach and makes people feel full so that they will eat less. Its average monthly cost is $100. Ask a healthcare provider for medical advice before trying this treatment.