Paying cash vs using insurance
How much does escitalopram cost?
Lexapro · generic Lexapro, another common SSRI. Example fill: 90 × escitalopram 10 mg tablet.
Escitalopram is generic Lexapro. Brand Lexapro trained people to expect a serious monthly bill. 10 mg tablets are not that drug anymore. Pharmacies acquire them cheaply. Cash for 90 tablets is often far below a high-deductible copay. If you are staring at $47 on the insurance estimate, ask for cash before they run the claim.
Watch the form. 15 mg capsules can cost the pharmacy several dollars each — a completely different fill from 10 mg tablets. 5 mg and 20 mg tablets are closer to the 10 mg story. Price what is on the label.
Escitalopram and sertraline are not interchangeable because one is cheaper. They are two different prescriptions. If yours is escitalopram 10 mg tablets, compare cash, coupon, and copay for that. Mail-order cash and some grocery or warehouse counters tend to beat chain cash. Coupons help at chains and still may not match mail.
Do not stop or switch antidepressants to chase a price table. Do ask how you pay. See sertraline, cash vs copay, and RxCompare.app.
Estimated cash for 90 tablets or capsules
If your copay is $47, paying about $7.08 cash instead would save about $39.92 on this 90-day fill — if the register matches. These are estimates from public pharmacy acquisition cost (CMS NADAC as of 2026-09-02), not a coupon and not a guaranteed price. The coupon column is an estimate for chain cash only.
| Where you might fill | Est. cash | Est. chain coupon |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Plus · often cheapest | $7.08 | — |
| Costco | $9.79 | — |
| Amazon Pharmacy | $9.96 | — |
| Stop & Shop | $11.50 | — |
| Walmart | $15.03 | $13.23 |
| CVS | $20.51 | $18.05 |
| Walgreens | $20.87 | $18.37 |
Other strengths of escitalopram
Price the strength on your bottle. These are different products.
- escitalopram 15 mg capsule
- escitalopram 20 mg tablet
- escitalopram 5 mg tablet
- escitalopram oxalate 5 mg/5 ml
FAQ
Why did I see a huge price for escitalopram 15 mg?
That strength is often a capsule with a much higher acquisition cost than 10 mg tablets. Quote the exact form.
Is generic Lexapro as cheap as other SSRIs?
10 mg tablets usually are. Compare cash to your copay for the strength you take.