How to Get Antidepressants Without Insurance

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the country, with an estimated 21 million U.S. adults having a major depressive episode in their lifetime.

Meanwhile, over 40 million adults struggle with an anxiety disorder. The good news about these mental health conditions is that they’re treatable.

That said, only about one-third of those diagnosed receive treatment. One reason why? A lot of people don’t receive mental health treatment because they don’t have health insurance. Those who have inadequate or no coverage often encounter unattainable treatment costs.

But there are ways to get affordable prescription medications without it. That’s why we've put together a guide on how to get antidepressants without insurance.

Antidepressant medications are thought to work by affecting chemicals in the brain associated with major depression.

Antidepressants can also be used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sometimes chronic (long-term) pain.

In some cases, antidepressants are used to treat bipolar disorder, although they’re used conservatively due to certain risks and limited effectiveness.

The most common types of antidepressants are:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressant. They increase the amount of serotonin available in your brain by preventing certain brain cells from reabsorbing the neurotransmitter. SSRIs generally have fewer drug interactions, safety issues, and side effects than older antidepressants. Some examples include citalopram (Celexa^®), escitalopram (Lexapro^®), fluoxetine (Prozac^®), paroxetine (Paxil^®), and sertraline (Zoloft^®).

• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). These antidepressants act on both serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain. Like other antidepressants, SNRIs can cause side effects. However, they tend to be mild and often disappear after several weeks of use. Examples include venlafaxine (Effexor^®), duloxetine (Cymbalta^®), and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq^®).

• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). An older class of antidepressants, TCAs work by increasing certain neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine. These antidepressants are about as equally as effective as SSRIs but are used much less often due to a higher risk of causing some side effects and drug interactions. Examples include doxepin (Silenor^®) and desipramine (Norpramin^®).

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). MAOIs are another older class of antidepressants. They increase serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, and tyramine levels by blocking the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which breaks down those neurotransmitters. MAOIs are rarely used except when other medications for depression aren’t effective. Examples include isocarboxazid (Marplan^®) and phenelzine (Nardil^®).

• Atypical antidepressants. Some medications, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin^®), are referred to as atypical antidepressants because they don’t fall under the other classes of antidepressants. Though it has a different mode of action — it increases levels of dopamine and norepinephrine — research shows that bupropion has similar efficacy to other antidepressants.

Our full list of antidepressants goes into more detail on all the types of antidepressants, their side effects, and more.

Antidepressants mainly treat the symptoms of depression. If a healthcare provider or mental health professional believes taking antidepressants is right for you, they’ll prescribe one that works best for your specific conditions.

But what if you don’t have health insurance to cover the cost of antidepressants? Keep reading to learn more about how to get on antidepressants without health insurance.

Wondering how to get prescribed antidepressants for less? We’ve got you covered.

Go Generic

Choosing a generic brand of antidepressants can often help with sticker shock, since there’s often a cost difference between generic and brand-name antidepressants. On average, generic drugs cost 85 percent less than the brand version.

For example, the recommended 50 mg daily dosage of sertraline (the generic name for Zoloft^®) can range from $11 to $32 for 30 tablets. However, the cost for a supply of 30 tablets of 50mg of Zoloft^® (the brand name) is around $416.

Generic drugs even saved U.S. consumers $253 billion in 2017.

So, what’s the difference between generic and brand-name drugs? Generic medications are a chemical copy of the brand-name versions. They contain the same active ingredient that makes the drug work.

A major difference between generic and brand-name drugs is that the FDA gives brand manufacturers patent protection for some time. Once the patent expires, generic drugs can enter the market after meeting the same quality, safety, and effectiveness FDA standards as brands.

Not all antidepressant drugs are available as generic versions, though. Ask your healthcare provider if a brand-name or generic antidepressant is the best option for you based on your health and budget.

Explore Patient Assistant Services

Many pharmaceutical companies also offer patient assistance programs (PAPs), which may be available to patients who don’t have insurance. These programs offer financial assistance to low-income individuals for prescription drug coverage. You can ask your healthcare provider for more information, including how to apply.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) is another free and confidential service that helps connect those without health insurance coverage to prescription assistance programs that offer medicines for free or at low costs.

Pharmaceutical companies also offer samples of new medications to healthcare professionals and clinics.

Buy Online

Buying medication online can be another cost-effective way to treat major depression or anxiety disorders. Be sure you’re only buying from a legitimate site, as the FDA cautions against the potential risk of buying medication online.

If you order medication online, only use a licensed pharmacy with a licensed pharmacist on call to answer your questions.

Untreated mental health conditions can interfere with your life and negatively affect your overall mental health and well-being. Whether or not you have health insurance coverage shouldn’t affect your ability to get help, though.

While it does require little effort, there are ways to get on antidepressants without health insurance — and once you have more information, the task can feel a lot more manageable. 

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Generic antidepressants contain the same active ingredient as their brand-name alternatives, but they cost significantly less.

• Assistance programs (like PPA and PAP) offer financial assistance to qualifying individuals. Ask your healthcare provider for more information on how to apply.

• Getting prescription medication through a trusted online service can be another cost-effective way to treat major depression or anxiety disorders. Some don’t require health insurance.

Even though insurance can feel like an extra obstacle in getting treatment, you’ve already taken the first step.

Depression is treatable, and long-term recovery is possible.

You can talk to a licensed psychiatry provider online through Hers to receive a personalized treatment plan and medication, if necessary, to help treat your depressive symptoms and take control of your mental health.