What naltrexone costs if you have no insurance

What naltrexone is for

According to MedlinePlus, a health site from the National Library of Medicine, naltrexone is used along with counseling and social support. It helps people who have stopped drinking alcohol or using opioids to reduce cravings and control dependence. It works by lowering the craving for alcohol and blocking the effects of opioids.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, says naltrexone is not an opioid and is not addictive. It comes as a daily tablet or as a shot given once every four weeks by a clinician. SAMHSA also says that any practitioner licensed to prescribe medicines can prescribe it. That means a primary care doctor can write the prescription. The FDA lists naltrexone tablets as a prescription medicine, so you do need one.

What a fill of naltrexone tablets costs

Our best government number for a real prescription fill comes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Its 2024 report totals what Medicare drug plans and their members paid for each fill. Medicare is the federal health plan for people 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities.

For naltrexone tablets from 10 makers, the average came to about $49 per fill. A typical fill held about 40 tablets, so each tablet averaged about $1.25. This is not a cash price, because Medicare plans negotiate and your price at the counter may be higher or lower. It does show that the tablets cost far less than the shot.

What pharmacies pay for each tablet

Every week, the same agency checks what pharmacies pay to stock their drugs, and it names the result NADAC. The figure is the pharmacy's cost, so the shelf price is higher. In the week of October 21, 2026, pharmacies paid about $1.12 for each generic 50 mg tablet. The survey does not list a price for any other tablet strength.

For a rough monthly cost, multiply the tablet price by the number of tablets you are prescribed. Thirty tablets come to about $34 at the survey price. Because the tablets cost little, the pharmacy's filling fee makes up most of a tablet fill, and an Ohio Medicaid study in 2022 put the average fee at $9.46. Your doctor picks the amount, so this example only shows the size of the cost.

Your counter price will be higher than the survey price, because the pharmacy adds a fee. The gap differs from store to store, so a few calls can help. Our guide on asking for the cash price shows how to compare them, and our guide on comparing prescription prices explains more ways to check.

The monthly shot costs much more

The extended-release shot is made by one company, and the survey lists only the brand-name version. A clinician gives it into the muscle of the buttock about once a month, according to MedlinePlus. In the 2024 Medicare report, each shot averaged about $1,642. The weekly survey shows pharmacies paying about $1,716 for one kit in October 2026.

The maker has a savings program for people with no insurance. Its website says eligible patients may pay as little as $0 per prescription. Savings are capped at $500 per prescription and $6,000 per calendar year. The offer is not valid for people in Medicare, Medicaid or other federal or state health programs. At these prices, $500 would cover only part of one shot, so ask the clinic what the rest would be.

Whether the tablet or the shot fits you is a decision for you and your prescriber. This page cannot tell you which one to use.

Ways to get help paying for treatment

The SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 is free and private, and someone answers at any hour of any day. It can refer you to local treatment, including programs that charge on a sliding scale. If you have no insurance, it can point you to your state office that runs state-funded treatment programs. SAMHSA also runs FindTreatment.gov, a search site for treatment near you. Our guide on addiction treatment without insurance explains state-funded programs and what to ask when you call.

A community health center is another place to look for help. The Health Resources and Services Administration says these centers adjust fees by income and serve everyone, even people who cannot pay. Our guide on community health centers shows where to start looking.

A cash-pay doctor can write the prescription and handle follow-up visits for a flat monthly fee. Direct primary care usually costs between $50 and $200 a month, and our search for a cash-pay doctor near you can help you find one. If you are comparing medicines for opioid use, our guide on buprenorphine and naloxone costs covers the other common option.

What to know about safety

MedlinePlus says naltrexone can cause or worsen withdrawal if opioids are still in your body. It tells people to tell their doctor about any opioid medicine or street drug used in the last 7 to 10 days. A clinician will decide when it is safe to start. SAMHSA adds that people who stop naltrexone or relapse may have a lower tolerance to opioids. The same dose they used before can then be life-threatening.

MedlinePlus says to keep taking naltrexone even if you feel well, and to talk with your doctor before you stop. If the price is a problem, tell your prescriber or pharmacist before you run out. Skipping doses to stretch a supply puts your treatment at risk.

If you need help right now

MedlinePlus notes that people who overuse drugs or alcohol can become depressed, and that naltrexone does not lower the risk of self-harm. If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988. That reaches the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which is free and open at all hours.

If you have an overdose, a collapse or trouble breathing, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For a poisoning or an overdose, you can also call poison control at 1-800-222-1222. Please remember that this page offers general information and not medical advice.