Austedo costs $7,000-$10,000/month without insurance. Learn how to save with copay cards, patient assistance programs, and discount strategies.
If you or someone you love takes Austedo (Deutetrabenazine) for tardive dyskinesia or Huntington's disease chorea, you already know it's not a cheap medication. Without insurance, Austedo can cost $7,000 to $10,000 per month — making it one of the most expensive prescriptions many patients will ever encounter.
The good news is that you don't necessarily have to pay full price. Between manufacturer savings programs, patient assistance options, and other strategies, there are real ways to bring your out-of-pocket cost down significantly. In this guide, we'll walk through every major option available in 2026.
Let's start with the numbers. The cash price (what you'd pay without any insurance or discount) for Austedo varies by pharmacy, dosage, and formulation:
These prices reflect the 30-day supply at maintenance doses. During the titration period (when you're starting at a lower dose), costs may be somewhat lower.
There is no generic version of Austedo available as of 2026, so there's no lower-cost generic alternative for this specific drug. However, generic Tetrabenazine (the precursor to Deutetrabenazine) is available for Huntington's chorea and may cost significantly less — talk to your doctor about whether it's appropriate for your situation.
Most commercial insurance plans and Medicare Part D plans do cover Austedo, but it's typically placed on a specialty tier with higher cost-sharing. What you'll actually pay depends on your plan:
Nearly all insurers require prior authorization before they'll cover Austedo. Some also require step therapy, meaning your doctor must document that you tried other treatments first. For tips on navigating these requirements, see our article on why Austedo is hard to find.
Teva Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Austedo, offers a copay savings card for eligible commercially insured patients. Here's what you need to know:
This is often the single most impactful way to reduce your out-of-pocket cost if you have private insurance. Even if your plan covers Austedo, the copay on a specialty tier drug can be hundreds of dollars — the savings card can eliminate that entirely.
If you're uninsured or underinsured and can't afford Austedo, the Teva Cares Foundation may provide the medication for free. Key details:
If you've been quoted the full $7,000 to $10,000 cash price and don't have insurance, this program should be your first call.
Third-party discount card services can sometimes offer lower prices on specialty medications. Here are some worth checking:
Important note: For high-cost specialty medications like Austedo, discount cards typically offer modest savings compared to the manufacturer's copay program. They're most useful for patients who don't qualify for Teva's programs or who are paying cash.
Several nonprofit foundations offer grants to help patients cover copays for specialty medications. While fund availability varies throughout the year, these are worth checking:
These foundations can be especially helpful for Medicare patients who don't qualify for the manufacturer's copay card but still face significant out-of-pocket costs.
In some cases, one formulation may have better insurance coverage or a different copay tier than the other. Ask your pharmacist or insurance company to check pricing for both Austedo (twice daily) and Austedo XR (once daily). Your doctor can determine if switching is clinically appropriate.
Not all specialty pharmacies charge the same price. If your insurer allows you to choose between multiple in-network specialty pharmacies, compare costs. Some mail-order specialty pharmacies may offer lower copays or additional savings.
If your insurance covers Austedo but the copay is unaffordable, you can file a formulary exception request asking for a lower-tier placement. Your doctor will need to provide supporting documentation explaining why Austedo is medically necessary and why alternatives are not appropriate.
Some states have pharmaceutical assistance programs that help residents afford high-cost medications. Check with your state's department of health or aging services to see if any programs apply to you.
Austedo's price tag is steep, but the combination of Teva's copay savings card, the Teva Cares patient assistance program, independent foundation grants, and discount tools means most patients don't have to pay full price.
Here's a quick action plan:
For help finding a pharmacy that has Austedo in stock, visit Medfinder. And for more on navigating access challenges, check out these related guides:
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider and insurance company for guidance specific to your situation.
You focus on staying healthy. We'll handle the rest.
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