How much does Ingrezza cost and will insurance cover it?
Ingrezza (valbenazine) costs approximately $7,921 for 28 capsules of the 40mg strength and $8,702 for 28 capsules of the 80mg strength. This works out to be around $282 for each 40mg capsule and around $310 for every 80mg capsule. This cost depends on the pharmacy you visit and is based on using the drugclasses.com discount card. This price is for cash paying customers and is not valid with insurance plans.
This works out to an annual cost of $102,973 to $113,126 per year, but most people do not pay this amount.
Ingrezza is also available as a one-month free trial for new patients, through the Ingrezza Start program. For more information, call 1-84-INGREZZA (1-844-647-3992) 8am to 8pm EST, Monday through Friday.
People with commercial insurance (non-government funded) may qualify for a $0 copay for each monthly Ingrezza prescription through the Ingrezza savings card provided through the INBRACE Support Program. $10 a month or less is what most patients on this type of insurance pay for Ingrezza.
If you have Medicare your copay costs may range from $59 to the full cost of the drug, after the deductible stage. Approximately 46% of Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans cover Ingrezza.
If you have Medicaid most states require that you (or your physician) get prior authorization before filling your prescription for Ingrezza. Without prior approval, Medicaid may not cover this drug. In addition, Ingrezza is usually only approvable for Medicaid members aged 18 years of age or older with a diagnosis of moderate to severe TD caused by the use of a dopamine receptor blocking agent (eg, antipsychotics, metoclopramide) when other treatments, such as clonazepam, amantadine, tetrabenazine, or deutetrabenazine have been ineffective or not tolerated and the medication is prescribed by or in consultation with a specialist, such as a neurologist or a psychiatrist. Some costs may also be covered for adults with chorea associated with Huntington’s disease (HD), a hereditary progressive neurodegenerative disorder. The actual cost you pay varies by state.
Related questions
References
- Ingrezza Support Program https://inbracesupportprogram.com/ingrezzahcp/
- Ingrezza (valbenazine) 08/2023 Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. https://www.neurocrine.com/assets/2023/09/INGREZZA-Full-Prescribing-Information_PI_Approved-202309.pdf
Read next
Ingrezza mechanism of action: How does it work?
Experts aren’t sure exactly how Ingrezza works but suggest it blocks a protein transporter called vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), which is responsible for regulating the uptake of neurotransmitters such as dopamine. The abnormal functioning of dopamine is thought to be a cause of tardive dyskinesia (TD) and chorea associated with Huntington's disease (HD). By blocking VMAT2, Ingrezza reduces the uptake of dopamine, causing a decrease in symptoms of TD and chorea. Continue reading
Can Ingrezza capsules be opened?
Ingrezza Sprinkle capsules can be opened and sprinkled on soft food, such as applesauce, yogurt or pudding before swallowing. Do not chew the granules before swallowing. If you use the regular Ingrezza capsule that is swallowed and not sprinkled, do not open, cut, crush or split the capsule without your doctor’s advice. Continue reading
How effective is Ingrezza?
The effectiveness of Ingrezza improves with time, with maximal effectiveness reported at around 32 weeks for Tardive dyskinesia (TD) and up to 12 weeks for chorea associated with Huntington's disease (HD).
Trials consistently report over 61% of participants as “much improved” or “very much improved” after 4 to 6 weeks treatment with Ingrezza 50mg to 80mg according to their CGI-TD score. Changes in baseline with AIMS range from -2.4 to -5.8. Trials for chorea associated with HD reported a 4.6-point improvement in chorea severity score with Ingrezza compared with a 1.4-point improvement with placebo by the end of 12 weeks (mean difference –3.2, 95% CI, –4.4 to –2.0; P < 0.0001).
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Drug information
- Ingrezza Information for Consumers
- Ingrezza prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Ingrezza (detailed)
Related support groups
- Ingrezza (9 questions, 17 members)
- Tardive Dyskinesia (34 questions, 172 members)