Go Ad-Free
logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine

Price Differential between Brand-Name and Generic Ativan Is Astonishing

Generic lorazepam costs just $10 to $15 a month in some places, while brand-name Ativan can run to thousands. Why such a difference?

There is no question that generic drugs can offer big savings. Sometimes it is worthwhile to see just how great the price difference might be.

Q. My sister takes brand name Ativan, as her doctor does not want her on the generic. The cost to the insurance company every three months is nearly $10,000. Her copay is $100.00.

She ran low due to a mix-up at her drugstore and had to pay for 42 pills out of her own pocket. That came to $377.00. This is outlandish!

Brand-Name vs Generic Costs:

A. Ativan is a striking example of the difference between the cost of generic and brand-name medicine. In our area, generic lorazepam runs between $10 and $12 for a month’s supply, while the brand name is around $2500.

We assume that the 42 pills your sister had to pay for was a two-week supply. Lorazepam (Ativan) is a relatively short-acting benzodiazepine that is taken two or three times a day for anxiety or anxious depression.

Why Not Take the Generic?

Some readers may be wondering why her doctor insists on brand-name medication Ativan, especially given that generic lorazepam is so inexpensive. Others may recall that we have written previously about the unreliability of certain generic medications. While we have no way of knowing whether there are problems with lorazepam, the fact that the majority of generic drugs are made abroad gives some doctors pause.

When the brand-name drug is intended to control seizures (as, for example, Lamictal or Keppra), administering a generic version that doesn’t work as well can be disastrous. Here is a previous discussion of generic drugs that may be of interest.

Rate this article
star-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-empty
4.3- 44 ratings
About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
Tired of the ads on our website?

Now you can browse our website completely ad-free for just $5 / month. Stay up to date on breaking health news and support our work without the distraction of advertisements.

Browse our website ad-free
Join over 150,000 Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy

We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options.