The 10 Most Expensive Prescription Drugs and Their Cheaper Alternatives

The High Cost of Popular Brand-Name Drugs

Some of the most commonly prescribed brand-name drugs cost hundreds or even thousands per month. Here are popular expensive medications and their more affordable alternatives.

1. Humira (adalimumab) - ~$5,800/month

Alternatives: Biosimilars like Hadlima, Hyrimoz, and Cyltezo are now available at 50-80% less.

2. Eliquis (apixaban) - ~$550/month

Alternatives: Warfarin ($4-$10/month) requires monitoring but is far cheaper. Generic apixaban may arrive soon.

3. Ozempic (semaglutide) - ~$900/month

Alternatives: Metformin ($4-$15/month) for diabetes management. For weight loss, lifestyle changes combined with lower-cost medications.

4. Jardiance (empagliflozin) - ~$550/month

Alternatives: Metformin or generic glipizide for diabetes at a fraction of the cost.

5. Xarelto (rivarelbaan) - ~$530/month

Alternatives: Generic warfarin or, for some uses, generic clopidogrel.

6. Trulicity (dulaglutide) - ~$850/month

Alternatives: Metformin, sulfonylureas, or generic pioglitazone for type 2 diabetes.

7. Stelara (ustekinumab) - ~$13,000/month

Alternatives: Talk to your doctor about biosimilars entering the market or other biologic options.

8. Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) - ~$550/month

Alternatives: Generic ACE inhibitors like lisinopril or ARBs like losartan for heart failure management.

9. Dupixent (dupilumab) - ~$3,200/month

Alternatives: Generic topical treatments and antihistamines for eczema, though Dupixent may be necessary for severe cases.

10. Lyrica (pregabalin) - ~$500/month

Alternatives: Generic gabapentin ($10-$30/month) works for similar conditions.

How to Find Alternatives

Always discuss alternatives with your prescriber. Many therapeutic alternatives treat the same conditions at a fraction of the cost.

Search for cheaper alternatives to your medications at CheapRX.AI.