What fluoxetine costs if you have no insurance

What fluoxetine is for

Fluoxetine treats depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, according to MedlinePlus, a health site from the National Library of Medicine. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a condition with unwanted thoughts and urges to repeat actions. The medicine also treats panic attacks, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and certain eating disorders. It belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, which change the balance of a chemical in the brain.

Fluoxetine comes as capsules, tablets, an oral liquid and a delayed-release capsule. A prescriber must write the order before you can buy it. Which form and which strength you take is a decision for you and your prescriber.

What Medicare plans spent per fill

A federal health agency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, publishes how much Medicare drug plans and their members spent on each drug. We found no government list of cash prices, so this is the nearest real-world number. It blends what plans paid with what members paid, which means it is not a cash price.

• For generic fluoxetine, the average was about $11 per fill in 2024, across more than 7 million fills.
• For generic delayed-release fluoxetine, the average was about $198 per fill.
• For the brand-name capsule, the average was about $1,332 per fill.

A fill is a single trip to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. The average for the regular generic differed by maker, from about $5 to about $253 per fill. Most fills were priced near the low end of that range. If a quote looks high, ask which maker's version the pharmacy is using.

What pharmacies pay

Medicaid also keeps a national survey of what pharmacies pay for drugs. The survey is named NADAC, which stands for National Average Drug Acquisition Cost. Pharmacies add their own costs on top of this figure, so you will pay more than the numbers below. They are for the week of October 21, 2026, and all of them are for generics.

• A 10 mg capsule cost pharmacies about 3.4 cents, and a 20 mg capsule cost about 2.9 cents.
• A 40 mg capsule cost about 5.4 cents.
• A 10 mg tablet cost about 6.5 cents, and a 20 mg tablet cost about 9.7 cents.
• A 60 mg tablet cost about 18.5 cents.
• The oral liquid cost about 22 cents per milliliter.
• The delayed-release capsule cost about $30.55 each.

The strength and the number of units are your prescriber's choice. As an example of size only, 30 of the 20 mg capsules come to about 88 cents at the survey price. Thirty of the 20 mg tablets come to about $2.91. With a medicine this cheap, the pharmacy's dispensing fee drives the total, and Ohio's Medicaid program measured that fee at an average of $9.46 per prescription in 2022. A prescriber decides which form is right for you.

Why the delayed-release form and the brand cost more

The regular capsule has been sold as a generic for years, and many companies make it. The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, says competition among generic makers typically lowers prices. The delayed-release capsule has fewer makers, and the brand-name capsule has just one.

MedlinePlus says the delayed-release capsule is taken once a week. Even so, four of them come to about $122 at the survey price. A month of regular capsules would cost only a few dollars at that same price. If cost is a problem, tell your prescriber. Please do not switch forms or change how often you take it on your own.

Ways to pay less

The price you pay is the cash price at one pharmacy on one day, so it is worth a little time. Tell each pharmacy the exact form, strength and number of units on your prescription. Ask whether the price changes if you pay without any card or coupon. Write the quotes down so you can compare them side by side.

Call a few pharmacies and ask for the cash price of your exact prescription. Prices differ from one store to the next. For help with the words to use, read our guide on how to compare prescription prices.

Community health centers often use a sliding scale, so the fee depends on your income. HRSA, the federal health resources agency, says health centers treat mental health needs and welcome everyone, even people who cannot pay. Our guide on community health centers shows you how to find one. For help with talk therapy, see our guide on the cost of therapy. Our overview of mental health medicine costs covers other medicines.

A cash-pay doctor can manage refills and follow-up visits for a flat monthly fee. Plans for direct primary care usually cost $50 to $200 a month. You can search for a cash-pay doctor near you or try our health center finder.

Safety points and where to get help now

MedlinePlus says not to stop taking fluoxetine without talking to your doctor. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, and a doctor usually lowers the dose a little at a time. That is why you should not skip doses or stretch your supply when money is tight. Phone your prescriber or pharmacist before the bottle is empty and let them know that cost is the reason.

MedlinePlus also warns that medicines like fluoxetine may raise the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in children, teens and young adults under 24. Tell a doctor right away if you or someone you know has new thoughts of harming themselves or feels much worse. You can call or text 988 at any hour to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The call is free, and your conversation stays private.

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if there is an emergency. That includes someone who has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be woken. For an overdose, MedlinePlus also lists the poison control line at 1-800-222-1222. Please treat this page as general information, since it is not medical advice.