Generic Qsymia reaches pharmacies from two makers, with discount prices near $60 a month
Two generic versions of the oral weight-loss drug Qsymia are now being sold, giving patients a lower-priced alternative to brand-name Qsymia and to injected GLP-1 medications.
Teva Pharmaceuticals began shipping generic versions of Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate extended-release) in all four strengths on May 7, 2025, and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories started marketing its own copies of the same four strengths on June 12, 2025, according to FDA approval and marketing-start records [1].
Qsymia is a brand-name oral weight-loss drug made by VIVUS. The FDA approved the brand on July 17, 2012 [1]. Approval of a generic does not guarantee it will reach pharmacies; patents or exclusivity rights can legally block sales even after the agency signs off [1]. The generic approvals listed for this product begin with Actavis Laboratories on June 25, 2024, followed by Dr. Reddy's on June 12, 2025 [1]. The same listing shows several VIVUS patents on low-dose phentermine and topiramate with expiry dates in 2028 and 2029 [1].
What the prices look like
GoodRx lists average cash prices without insurance for a 30-day supply of brand Qsymia at $249.32 for 3.75 mg/23 mg, $258.08 for 7.5 mg/46 mg, $273.42 for 11.25 mg/69 mg and $275.66 for 15 mg/92 mg [2]. Discount-card prices for the generic at pharmacies in the same network run $59.72, $59.05, $62.80 and $62.80 for 30 capsules at those strengths, in that order [2].
Without a discount card, the average cash price for the generic is still below the brand at most strengths: $228.08, $165.94, $251.35 and $251.10 for 30 capsules [2]. Prices vary by pharmacy and by location [2]. GoodRx notes that Qsymia is a controlled substance and that some states do not allow coupons to be used for controlled substances [2].
The brand also has its own savings programs. The manufacturer's savings card cuts $75 per month for people paying cash, and a home-delivery program offers brand-name Qsymia for as little as $70 for a 90-day supply; people with government-funded insurance such as Medicare or Medicaid are not eligible for the savings card [2].
Why it matters for patients
Qsymia is an oral capsule taken once daily and does not require injections [2]. It belongs to a different drug class from GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), and GoodRx describes it as more affordable than the newer GLP-1 drugs [2]. In studies cited by GoodRx, average weight loss with Qsymia was about 8% to 10% after 56 weeks, and about 70% of participants taking the highest dose lost at least 5% of their starting body weight after a year [2].
Coverage rules matter as much as the sticker price. For the 7.5 mg/46 mg dose, GoodRx reports that 89.6% of people in commercial plans not bought through the Affordable Care Act marketplace have coverage, but 70.5% of them need prior authorization first [2]. Coverage is lower in ACA marketplace plans at 33.2% and Medicaid plans at 38.3%, and only 1.9% of Medicare Advantage and Part D enrollees are covered [2]. Plans may prefer the generic over the brand, and a few require step therapy, meaning other treatments must be tried first [2].
Whether this launch changes prices for GLP-1 medications has not been reported.
What happens next
The listed VIVUS patents expire in 2028 and 2029 [1]. Whether more manufacturers bring phentermine and topiramate extended-release to market, and whether discount prices fall further, has not been disclosed.
Sources
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