Gabapentin

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on March 7, 2023

Gabapentin is a generic medication that’s prescribed for certain seizures and for nerve pain after shingles. It comes as the brand-name drug Neurontin. The cost of gabapentin can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon. 

Gabapentin is available in these forms: capsule, tablet, and liquid solution that you swallow.

Read on to learn about gabapentin and cost, and find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about gabapentin, including its uses, refer to this overview article.

Cost of gabapentin

Like other medications, the cost of gabapentin can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use

To find out how much gabapentin costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for gabapentin” section.

Coupons for gabapentin

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of gabapentin. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Common questions about gabapentin and cost

Here are some common questions about gabapentin and their answers. 

Does gabapentin 300 mg cost more than the drug’s other strengths?

Gabapentin comes in several forms and strengths. Specifically, gabapentin capsules are available in strengths of 100 milligrams (mg), 300 mg, and 400 mg. Gabapentin tablets come in 600-mg and 800-mg strengths. The liquid solution comes in a strength of 250 mg per 5 milliliters (mL).

Several factors determine the cost of prescription drugs. Dosage strength may be one of them, and insurance coverage is another. Insurance plans can vary on drug coverage, including that of gabapentin. The copay required for drugs may also vary across insurance plans.

To find out how much you’ll likely pay for gabapentin, contact your insurance provider, or ask at your pharmacy.

How much does gabapentin cost without insurance?

Insurance coverage can affect the cost of prescription drugs, including gabapentin. Usually, the price you pay for prescriptions will be higher if you don’t have insurance.

That said, gabapentin is a generic drug. Even without insurance, generic drugs are usually less expensive than brand-name drugs. (Gabapentin comes as the brand-name drug Neurontin.)

If you don’t have prescription insurance coverage, you may be able to find coupons online to help save money on gabapentin. For more information, see the “Coupons for gabapentin” section above.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years without a generic being available. When the patent for a brand name expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication.

This competition may help keep costs for generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor.

Insurance and other considerations for gabapentin

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization. If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of gabapentin. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for gabapentin. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re taking gabapentin long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Mail-order pharmacies

You may be able to receive certain medications through a mail-order pharmacy. Getting a prescription this way can help lower the drug’s cost. It also means you can receive the drug without leaving your home. Some Medicare plans may cover the cost of mail-order medications.

Generics vs. brand-names

Gabapentin is a generic medication. It’s available as the brand-name drug Neurontin.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.

If your doctor has prescribed gabapentin and you’re interested in taking Neurontin instead, tell your doctor. They may prefer one medication over the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance company, as your plan might only cover one version of the drug.

To learn how the cost of gabapentin compares with its brand-name version, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

What to ask about gabapentin

This article provides cost information related to gabapentin and offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. A link for coupons for gabapentin can be found above in the article.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They can provide more information. You can also reach out to your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• Will my prescribed dosage of gabapentin affect the drug’s cost?
• Are there ways to lower the price I pay for gabapentin?
• What are my options if I can’t afford gabapentin?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Gabapentin- gabapentin capsule. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/9cccb20d-e5c7-4dd5-be06-1063eb216651/spl-doc
• Gabapentin- gabapentin solution. (2021). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/5969f1a8-d6d5-4967-add5-4e2492354d7b/spl-doc
• Gabapentin- gabapentin tablet, film coated. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/5a78ab50-993d-4857-be10-be665e02b353/spl-doc

Disclaimer: Optum Perks 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.