Guanfacine is a generic drug prescribed for ADHD and high blood pressure. It’s available as the brand-name drug Intuniv. The cost of guanfacine, with and without insurance, can depend on several factors.

Guanfacine comes in two forms approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for different conditions:

With IR medications, the drug releases into your body soon after you take your dose. With ER medications, the drug releases slowly into your body over time. The term “guanfacine” in this article refers to both forms of the drug except where noted.

Keep reading to learn about the cost of guanfacine and ways to save money on your prescriptions. For information about the drug’s uses, side effects, and more, you can refer to this article.

As with all medications, the cost of guanfacine can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.

To find out what the cost of guanfacine will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or look below in the next section to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.

To save money on your guanfacine ER tablet prescription, explore the Optum Perks coupons below. For guanfacine IR tablet price estimates, visit the Optum Perks site. (Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.)

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and guanfacine.

What’s the cost of guanfacine without insurance?

The price you’ll pay for guanfacine if you don’t have insurance can vary based on several factors. But typically, the cost is higher without insurance.

There are other factors that could affect what you pay for this drug. These include:

  • the quantity you’re prescribed (such as a 90-day or 30-day supply)
  • whether you apply and qualify for any available savings programs
  • your dosage
  • the pharmacy you use
  • the form of the drug you’re prescribed (such as guanfacine IR tablet or ER tablet)

To learn the exact cost you’d pay for this medication without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You may also want to contact several pharmacies to compare their prices for guanfacine.

You can also visit Optum Perks for price estimates of guanfacine ER tablet and guanfacine IR tablet when using coupons from the site.

How does the cost of guanfacine ER compare with the cost of medications such as Concerta or Vyvanse?

The price you’d pay for guanfacine ER tablet versus the brand-name drugs Concerta or Vyvanse depends on various factors. These include:

  • the length of your treatment
  • whether there are payment assistance programs for your prescribed treatment
  • whether you’re paying out of pocket or have insurance

In addition, guanfacine ER tablet is a generic and generic drugs usually cost less than brand-name drugs. So, guanfacine ER tablet may cost less than Concerta or Vyvanse. However, generic versions of these medications are available. You can refer to the section just below for details about generic versus brand-name drugs.

To learn more about the cost of guanfacine ER tablet compared with other ADHD medications, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Guanfacine is a generic drug, which means it’s an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. A generic drug is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Guanfacine ER tablet is available as the brand-name drug Intuniv. The brand-name version of guanfacine IR tablet (Tenex) is no longer available.

If your doctor has prescribed guanfacine ER tablet and you’re interested in taking Intuniv instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer one version or the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as it may cover only one or the other.

To find out how the cost of this brand-name drug compares with the cost of guanfacine ER tablet, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you take guanfacine long term, you may be able to lower its cost in the following ways.

Getting a 3-month supply

You may be able to get a 90-day supply of guanfacine. If approved by your insurance company, getting a 90-day supply of the drug could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost. If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Using a mail-order pharmacy

Guanfacine may be available through a mail-order pharmacy. Using this type of service may help lower the drug’s cost and allow you to receive your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug via mail order.

If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.

If you need financial support to pay for guanfacine, consider looking into websites that offer cost resources and information. Two such websites are:

These sites can provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services.

Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive guanfacine.

If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers guanfacine. This means the company and your doctor will discuss guanfacine in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered. If a drug requires prior authorization but you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether guanfacine requires prior authorization.

If you’d like information about the conditions guanfacine is approved to treat, see our hubs for ADHD and high blood pressure.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.