Ondansetron cost and coupons

Ondansetron comes in these forms: a tablet that you swallow, an orally disintegrating tablet that dissolves on your tongue, a solution that you swallow, an injection given as an infusion into a vein, and an injection given into the muscle.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ondansetron for nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy for cancer, radiation, or after having surgery.

Read on to learn about ondansetron and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about ondansetron, including its uses, refer to this overview article.

Cost of ondansetron

Like other medications, the cost of ondansetron can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of ondansetron

To find out how much ondansetron costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the following section.

Coupons for ondansetron

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of ondansetron.

Visit these pages to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for ondansetron when you use the coupons.

• ondansetron
• ondansetron ODT

These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Cost considerations for ondansetron

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization. If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of ondansetron. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for ondansetron. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of ondansetron injection may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because ondansetron doses are given by a doctor or another healthcare professional. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan and whether you receive the doses at your doctor’s clinic or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re taking ondansetron long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Ondansetron is a generic medication. It’s not available in a brand-name version.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Ondansetron is based on the brand-name version Zofran, which is no longer available.

Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

Common questions about ondansetron and cost

Here are some common questions about ondansetron and their answers. 

Does ondansetron 4 mg cost less than ondansetron 8 mg?

It’s possible. The price you’ll pay for ondansetron 4 mg or for 8 mg will depend on several factors, including your insurance coverage (if you have it) and the pharmacy you use. If you have questions about how much different doses of ondansetron will cost, talk with your pharmacist or your insurance company.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor.

What to ask about ondansetron

This article provides cost information related to ondansetron. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. You’ll find a link to coupons for ondansetron near the beginning of this article.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• If my dose of ondansetron is changed, will my medication cost less?
• If I cannot afford my medication, what are my options?
• Do certain forms of ondansetron cost less than other forms?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks 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.