GoodRx Offers Weight Loss Drug Qsymia for $149 at Retail Pharmacies

GoodRx is offering Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate) for a cash price of $149-day for a 30-day supply. Developed by Vivus, Qsymia is an oral medication approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in adolescents aged 12 years and older in July 2022. Qsymia was originally approved in 2012 for adults who are obese.

About 42% of U.S. adults have obesity, and untreated obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and mortality, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While demand for weight-loss medications has soared in recent years, consumers often struggle to access them due to high costs and lack of insurance coverage. 

“Our partnership with GoodRx coupled with the weight loss profile of Qsymia offers Americans an unprecedented value vs. other therapies,” John Amos, CEO at Vivus said in a news release. “Collaborating with GoodRx enables us to offer an affordable solution for individuals who have prescriptions for Qsymia and expand access to those seeking a cost-effective option to fill them.”

With Qsymia, 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 4 adolescents experience weight loss on the top dose of at least 20% of their body weight, according to Vivus officials. It is designed to help patients manage hunger and reduce cravings.

Vivus also announced that the FDA has removed a requirement for a postmarketing cardiovascular outcome trial for Qsymia. In a letter to the company, FDA officials said the recent positive topline data from a postmarketing study evaluating the effect of Qsymia on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure does not raise concerns about cardiovascular risk. As a result, the agency removed the strict requirements of BMI for patient eligibility.

The postmarketing study assessed ambulatory blood pressure for eight weeks in patients with overweight or obesity who also had at least one weight-related comorbidity (i.e., hypertension, dyslipidemia, impaired fasting glucose or glucose tolerance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or obstructive sleep apnea). The study demonstrated that treatment with Qsymia for eight weeks was associated with reductions in 24-hour mean systolic blood pressure.

Vivus also offers several direct-to-consumer options, including a home delivery option for $98 cash only option for a 30-day supply, according to the product website. For patients paying cash or if Qsymia is not covered by commercial insurance, they can receive $70 off 3.75 mg/23 mg dose quantities of 14 to 15 days and $75 off all other doses with quantities of 28 to 30 days.

Patients with commercial insurance coverage are eligible to receive $65 off 3.75 mg/23 mg dose quantities of 14 to 15 days and all other doses with quantities of 28 to 30 days.

Related: Lilly Introduces Zepbound Single-Dose Vial for Cash-Paying Patients

Qsymia is not the only prescription weight-loss drug being offered directly to consumers. In August 2024, Lilly released a single-dose vial version of Zepbound (tirzepatide) for self-pay patients. The single-dose is available in 2.5 mg and 5 mg doses.