Key takeaways:
Hydroxyzine — which is available as hydroxyzine hydrochloride or hydroxyzine pamoate (Vistaril) — is an antihistamine that is used to manage anxiety and reduce itching due to allergic conditions. It also can be used as a sedative before medical procedures. Hydroxyzine comes in several forms, including an oral liquid, capsules, and tablets.
Without insurance, 60 tablets of 25 mg hydroxyzine hydrochloride costs an average of $29.84. Prices vary depending on your prescribed dose and form, your location, and what pharmacy you use.
With a GoodRx coupon, the price may be as low as $9.00 at certain pharmacies. You may also be able to save by filling a 3-month supply and using tax-advantaged healthcare funds to pay for your prescription.
Save on related medications
People experience anxiety for many reasons, such as concern about a loved one's illness or fear over losing a job. Sometimes, healthcare professionals prescribe a medication such as hydroxyzine hydrochloride or hydroxyzine pamoate (Vistaril) to provide relief from anxiety. Hydroxyzine pamoate is available in oral capsules, and hydroxyzine hydrochloride comes as oral tablets and an oral liquid (syrup).
Hydroxyzine can also treat itching caused by allergic conditions such as eczema. It's also used as a sedative before medical procedures. Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine, which means it works by blocking histamine, a chemical that causes allergy symptoms like itching. Hydroxyzine may also help boost serotonin levels, which can help with anxiety for some people.
If you're wondering how much hydroxyzine costs without insurance, you're not alone. Below are details about hydroxyzine's average price and how you can save on the medication.
How much does hydroxyzine cost without insurance?
Both versions of hydroxyzine come as lower-cost generic medications. The good news about that is: Even without insurance, you may not have to pay much for your prescription.
How much you’ll pay for hydroxyzine without insurance depends on several factors, including your:
Specific pharmacy
Geographic location
Fill amount
Prescribed dose and formulation
The following tables show the average retail price for different quantities, doses, and forms of hydroxyzine.
Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride Costs
Hydroxyzine Pamoate Costs
Is hydroxyzine covered by insurance?
Most insurance plans cover generic hydroxyzine hydrochloride and hydroxyzine pamoate. That includes nearly all Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial plans, as well as most plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.
If you have insurance, review your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary (list of covered medications) to determine whether the version and formulation of hydroxyzine you need is covered. If not, contact your prescription medication plan provider and ask about your coverage options. You can also discuss alternative medications with your prescriber or a pharmacist.
How insurance covers hydroxyzine
The following charts show the likelihood of having coverage for hydroxyzine hydrochloride 25 mg tablets and hydroxyzine pamoate 25 mg capsules under different types of insurance plans. They also show the likelihood of having prior authorization and step therapy requirements.
Most commercial health insurance plans don’t require enrollees to get a prior authorization or do step therapy to get coverage for hydroxyzine. But some people covered by ACA plans, Medicaid, and Medicare are subject to these requirements.
Insurance Coverage for Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride (25 mg Tablets)
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for 25 mg hydroxyzine hydrochloride tablets | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Commercial (not including plans purchased through an ACA marketplace) | 98.5% | 1.4% | 0% |
85.5% | 11.1% | 0% | |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 96.8% | 44.3% | 0.3% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 6.6% | 1.2% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of December 13, 2024. (See methodology below.)
Insurance Coverage for Hydroxyzine Pamoate (25 mg Capsules)
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for 25 mg hydroxyzine pamoate capsules | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Commercial (not including plans purchased through an ACA marketplace) | 98.4% | 1.4% | 0.02% |
ACA plans | 81.4% | 11.7% | 0.3% |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 89.8% | 38.1% | 0.2% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 10.4% | 0.3% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of December 13, 2024. (See methodology below.)
Tips if your medication isn’t covered by insurance
Here are a few steps you can consider taking if your health insurance doesn’t cover hydroxyzine:
Use a GoodRx coupon to save on your prescription.
Ask your prescriber about a less costly option that may meet your needs.
Discuss switching to a lower-cost generic if you were prescribed brand-name Vistaril.
Request a formulary exception from your prescription medication plan. You may be required to do step therapy or get a prior authorization to be covered.
If you request a formulary exception and are denied coverage, file an appeal with your plan.
During your next open enrollment period, weigh your options. You may be eligible for another plan with better prescription medication coverage.
Ways to save on hydroxyzine without insurance
Even though hydroxyzine is typically a lower-cost medication, you may be able to reduce the price of your prescription. Here are four ways to save on hydroxyzine without insurance.
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
With a GoodRx coupon, you could pay a lower price for your hydroxyzine prescription. For example, you may be able to get 60 tablets of 25 mg hydroxyzine hydrochloride for as little as $9.00 at certain pharmacies with a free GoodRx coupon.
Here’s how to get a coupon:
Visit www.goodrx.com, or download the GoodRx app on your mobile device.
Type “hydroxyzine hydrochloride” or “hydroxyzine pamoate” in the search field.
Click or tap "Start saving," or press return.
Select your location and the correct formulation, quantity, and dose.
Choose to receive your coupon via email or text, or print it out.
Show the coupon at your pharmacy when you pick up your medication. If you present the coupon to your pharmacy staff early on in the filling process, such as when you first receive your prescription, this could prevent delays at the pickup counter.
2. Compare prices at various pharmacies
With the help of GoodRx, you can easily compare costs at different pharmacies to find the best hydroxyzine price in your area.
3. Request a 90-day supply
Ask your healthcare professional about prescribing you a 90-day supply of hydroxyzine instead of a 30-day supply. Some insurance plans offer lower copays for 90-day prescriptions, and pharmacies may provide discounts on larger quantities. While the savings can vary, this may reduce both your costs and your number of trips to the pharmacy.
4. Use tax-advantaged healthcare funds
Consider using funds from a health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) to purchase hydroxyzine. These accounts let you use pretax dollars to pay for copays, coinsurance, and other qualified medical expenses. This can help you reduce your costs through tax savings.
Just be sure to check if the money in your account has to be used before a certain time. FSA dollars have an expiration date. But HSA funds roll over and can be saved for later. HRA funds may or may not expire, depending on your account.
The bottom line
Hydroxyzine hydrochloride and hydroxyzine pamoate (Vistaril) are antihistamines that are used to manage anxiety and reduce itching due to allergic conditions. Hydroxyzine is also used in healthcare settings as a sedative before medical procedures.
Hydroxyzine is typically a lower-cost medication. The exact amount you will pay for the medication depends on your prescribed form, dose, and quantity, as well as your pharmacy, location, and insurance status. Without insurance, 60 tablets of 25 mg hydroxyzine hydrochloride costs an average of $29.84. With a free GoodRx coupon, you could pay as little as $9.00 at certain pharmacies. Other forms, such as the oral capsules or syrup, may cost more or less.
In addition to using a GoodRx coupon, you may be able to save on your prescription by using tax-advantaged funds from a healthcare account or filling a 90-day supply. You can also ask your prescriber if there is an alternative medication that costs less.
Why trust our experts?
Methodology
We obtained national prescription coverage data for each medication from Managed Markets Insight & Technology (MMIT). The data reflects health insurance coverage as of December 2024.
We calculated the percentage of enrollees in plans that cover each medication by dividing the number of enrollees covered for the medication within a specific insurance channel (e.g., ACA, Medicare, Medicaid) by the total number of enrollees in all plans within that channel.
We determined the percentage of enrollees in plans with a prior authorization requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that required prior authorization for the medication within each channel.
Finally, we measured the percentage of enrollees in plans with a step therapy requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that imposed step therapy requirements for the medication in each channel.
These estimates, derived from national MMIT coverage data, provide insight into health insurance coverage for each medication. They take into account restrictions such as prior authorization, step therapy, and quantity limits. The percentages are expressed relative to the total number of enrollees covered by various insurance channels, including the ACA, commercial (excluding ACA) plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state-run and managed care plans).
References
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care.
