Is Brand Name Valium Still Available?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses the availability of brand name Valium.
Is brand name Valium 5 Mg available? I can only find generic diazepam. The information I have is that the manufacturer Waylis Therapeutics is not Medicare Part D eligible. Is there a manufacturer for brand name Valium available for cash payment?
Nov 16, 2022- Brand name Valium is still manufactured by Genentech but may be difficult to find at your pharmacy since it's a low-volume product. Generic diazepam is widely available and typically much less expensive than brand name Valium. Prices for brand Valium range from about $4 to $11 per tablet depending on strength, and you can use coupons from GoodRx to find the best prices at different pharmacies.
Answer
Yes, brand name Valium is still being manufactured but I'm not sure whether or not your pharmacy carries it or would be able to order it for you.
It has had a few different labelers in the past, but currently, it is manufactured and sold by Genentech, part of the Roche family of companies. You can find it on their website under their list of products (Genentech: Our Medicines & Products).
Cost And Coverage
Insurance plans vary, so it's difficult to determine your specific coverage without knowing your plan.
However, since Valium is available generically, it would be uncommon that the brand name is covered without going through the prior authorization process.
If it is covered at all, you likely will have to have tried the generic options, other generic benzodiazepines, and/or have a medical reason why the preferred options on your plan cannot be used.
Nevertheless, you stated in your question that you were looking to pay 'out of pocket' or 'cash' for it.
The cost of brand name Valium will vary by pharmacy, but brand name products tend to have less price variation than generics. Based on the most up to date information I have, as of 11/16/2022, the average prices of brand Valium are as follows:
- 2 mg (per tablet): $4.08
- 5 mg (per tablet): $6.35
- 10 mg (per tablet): $10.68
GoodRx is a good resource for you to keep up on how much the drug will cost you with one of their coupons.
Final Words
I mentioned at the beginning of this answer that I am unsure about whether or not your pharmacy carries the drug. I did a quick check, and it is available at some wholesalers.
However, since it is such a low volume drug, your pharmacy may not want to purchase it if you're the only one that takes it to reduce inventory overhead and the chance of it expiring before their bottle is exhausted. The margin on brand name drugs is quite low for pharmacies, and again, they may be hesitant to purchase it.
Your best bet, if you're having trouble finding it, is to look for a higher volume pharmacy since chances are there will be another individual taking it.
References & sources
- Genentech Products — Genentech
- Lexicomp Drug Pricing — Lexicomp (Subscription Required)
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Brand name
- A medication sold under the original trademarked name given by the manufacturer, as opposed to the generic chemical name.
- Generic
- A medication that contains the same active ingredient as a brand name drug but is sold under its chemical name, usually at a lower cost.
- Benzodiazepines
- A class of prescription drugs used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions by calming the central nervous system.
- Prior authorization
- A process where your doctor must get approval from your insurance company before they will cover a specific medication.
- Inventory overhead
- The costs and expenses associated with storing and managing products that a pharmacy keeps in stock.
- Margin
- The profit that a business makes on a sale, calculated as the difference between what they paid for a product and what they sell it for.
- Wholesalers
- Companies that purchase medications in large quantities from manufacturers and resell them to pharmacies in smaller quantities.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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