What quetiapine costs if you have no insurance

Uses of quetiapine and the cost of a fill

MedlinePlus, a health site from the National Library of Medicine, says quetiapine treats schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. Schizophrenia is a mental illness that changes how a person thinks and behaves. Bipolar disorder causes swings between depression and mania, which is a period of unusually high energy. Quetiapine belongs to a group of medicines called atypical antipsychotics.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal health agency, reports how much Medicare drug plans and their members spent on each prescription fill. In 2024, a fill of generic quetiapine averaged about $17, and it held about 55 tablets. The extended-release version, which is taken once a day, averaged about $65 per fill. The brand-name tablet averaged about $729 per fill, and the brand-name extended-release tablet averaged about $1,064.

Medicare is the health program run by the federal government for people 65 and older and for some younger people who are disabled. Its plans negotiate prices, so your cash price may be higher or lower than these numbers.

The pharmacy cost of each tablet

The same agency also surveys pharmacies each week to learn what they paid to buy drugs. The survey is called NADAC, and it shows the cost to the pharmacy, which is lower than the price on the shelf. These numbers are for the week of October 21, 2026, and each of them is for a generic tablet.

• The 25 mg tablet cost pharmacies about 2 cents each.
• The 50 mg tablet cost about 3 cents each.
• The 100 mg tablet cost about 5 cents each.
• The 200 mg tablet cost about 9 cents each.
• The 300 mg tablet cost about 13 cents each.
• The 400 mg tablet cost about 16 cents each.

The extended-release tablets cost more than the regular ones. The 50 mg strength was about 12 cents each, and the 400 mg strength was about 32 cents each. The survey also lists a 150 mg tablet at about $1.26 each, which is far above its neighbors. That is a good reason to ask the pharmacy for the price of your exact prescription.

To estimate a total, multiply the price per tablet by the number of tablets on your prescription. As an example, 60 tablets of the 100 mg strength come to about $2.90 at the survey price. Your prescriber picks the strength and the number of tablets. We show this only to give you a sense of the size of the cost.

The counter price is higher, because the pharmacy adds its own fee. Our guide on asking for the cash price has a script you can use when you call.

The generic is cheap and the brand is not

Generic quetiapine is on sale in the United States, and the survey lists it in many strengths. The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, says that when many companies sell the same generic, the competition tends to lower prices. The Medicare data show the gap clearly, about $17 for a generic fill against about $729 for a brand-name fill.

A brand-name tablet in the survey cost about $26.36 each for the 400 mg extended-release strength. If a pharmacy quotes you a very high price, ask whether the quote is for the brand. You can also ask the prescriber's office to note that a generic is fine.

Some drug makers run free-medicine programs for people with low incomes. We checked the medicine list of the brand maker's assistance program in October 2026, and quetiapine was not on it. Lists change, so ask your prescriber's office whether another program exists.

Other ways to spend less

A community health center sets its fees on a sliding scale, so what you pay depends on your income and family size. The Health Resources and Services Administration says health centers can buy outpatient drugs at reduced prices through a federal program called 340B. It does not say how much of the saving reaches patients, so ask the center what it charges. Our guide on community health centers shows you where to start.

The medicine is only one part of mental health care. You also need visits with a prescriber to refill it and to check how you are doing. A cash-pay doctor on a monthly membership may handle follow-up visits, though some people need a psychiatrist. Direct primary care usually costs $50 to $200 a month, and you can search for a cash-pay doctor near you. Our guide on therapy costs lists low-cost options for talk therapy.

For other medicines in this group, see our guides on duloxetine costs and escitalopram costs.

Please do not stop quetiapine on your own

MedlinePlus says to keep taking quetiapine even if you feel well, and not to stop without talking to your doctor. It says that if you stop suddenly, you may have withdrawal symptoms such as nausea and trouble sleeping. Your doctor will probably want to lower the amount slowly. If cost is the problem, call your prescriber or pharmacist before you run out and tell them so. Please do not skip doses to stretch your supply.

Quetiapine has boxed warnings, which are the strongest kind of safety warning. MedlinePlus says older adults with dementia may have a higher risk of death when they take medicines like this. It also says young people who take such medicines for depression have a higher risk of suicidal thoughts. The risk is greatest at the start of treatment and when the amount changes. Call the prescriber right away if mood gets worse or you notice unusual changes in behavior.

Anyone who is thinking about hurting themselves can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The line is free and private, and it is open day and night. In any emergency, such as trouble breathing, a seizure or someone who cannot be woken, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If someone takes too much, call poison control at 1-800-222-1222. This page gives general information and is not medical advice.

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