It’s Finally Here, the Generic for Lexapro! Meet Mylan Pharmaceuticals’ Escitalopram
March 14th will be a great day for those of you who have been paying $50 – $100 a month for Lexapro. The patent for Lexapro runs out this month, and Mylan pharmaceuticals will launch escitalopram, the first generic equivalent to Lexapro.
Escitalopram 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg will be available at a much cheaper price than you have been paying for your Lexapro and that is good news.
Lexapro is a commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication for the acute and maintenance treatment of major depressive disorder in adults and adolescents ages 12 – 17, and for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in adults.
Escitalopram, the same medication in generic form, will now be available for the same indications.
Cheers!
Dr. O.
Escitalopram will likely be considered a Tier 1 medication by insurance plans, meaning you’ll pay only your lowest co-pay. Lexapro is covered by some insurance plans as a Tier 2 or 3 medication, meaning a higher copay, but this may change with the introduction of the generic option. Lexapro 10 mg tablets can be found for around $100 for a 30-day supply, up to about $150. Escitalopram 10 mg tablets, in contrast, will start at closer to $80 for a 30-day supply.
Dr. Orrange is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Southern California, as well as a practicing adult medicine doctor in Los Angeles. She also has a Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. She does not receive any form of compensation from pharmaceutical manufacturers for the opinions expressed here.
The GoodRx Pharmacist is a state-licensed pharmacist with a PharmD who currently works behind the counter at one of the nation's largest pharmacy chains.
Elizabeth Davis is GoodRx's medical editor and consumer savings expert. She hand-assembled the GoodRx drug database and has researched virtually every available discount program and savings opportunity.