Alendronate, Fosamax, Binosto
Alendronate is a generic medication that’s prescribed for conditions of the bones, including osteoporosis and Paget’s disease. The brand-name versions of this drug are Binosto and Fosamax. The cost of alendronate with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
Alendronate is a generic medication that’s prescribed for conditions of the bones, including osteoporosis and Paget’s disease. The brand-name versions of this drug are Binosto and Fosamax. The cost of alendronate with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
- Generic
- • Tablet
- • 70mg
- • 4 Tablets
Dosage settings
Set your dosage
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Intro
Introduction
Medically reviewed by Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD
Written by Skyler Todd, PharmD
Updated on September 28, 2023
Alendronate comes in these forms: oral tablet, oral liquid solution, and effervescent tablet for oral liquid solution (a tablet that dissolves in water to make an oral liquid solution).
Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved alendronate to:
- treat and help prevent osteoporosis in females* who have gone through menopause
- increase bone mass in males* with osteoporosis
- treat osteoporosis caused by taking glucocorticoids
- treat Paget’s disease of bone
Read on to learn about alendronate and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about alendronate, including its uses, refer to this overview article.
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.
Price
Price of alendronate
Like other medications, the cost of alendronate can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:
- your insurance plan, if you have coverage
- the pharmacy you use
To find out how much alendronate 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
Coupons for alendronate
Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of alendronate. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any 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.
Insurance and other considerations
Insurance and other considerations for alendronate
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 alendronate. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for alendronate. 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.
- A 3-month supply. If you’re taking alendronate 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
Generics vs. brand names
Alendronate is a generic medication. Its brand-name versions are shown in the following table:
Form | Generic available | Brand available | Brand name |
oral tablet | ✓ | ✓ | Fosamax |
oral liquid solution | ✓ | ✓ | Fosamax |
effervescent tablet for oral liquid solution | ✓ | Binosto |
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.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.
If your doctor has prescribed alendronate but you’re interested in taking Binosto or Fosamax, let them know. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers only one version of the drug.
To learn how the cost of alendronate compares with its brand-name versions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company.
FAQ
Common questions about alendronate and cost
Here are some common questions about alendronate and their answers.
Is alendronate covered by Medicare?
Yes, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans cover alendronate. Talk with your Medicare representative, your doctor, or a pharmacist for specific details according to which plan you have.
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
What to ask about alendronate
This article provides cost information related to alendronate. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for alendronate.
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:
- Can I save money on my alendronate prescription by using a mail-order pharmacy?
- Are there alternative drugs for my condition that cost less than alendronate?
- Do all dosage forms of alendronate cost the same amount?
Resources
Resources
- Alendronate sodium oral solution, for oral use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/81589178-10c9-4806-91eb-54e638d35b8d/spl-doc
- Alendronate sodium tablets, for oral use. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/fe1dd324-eb02-4a73-97f5-9b77a7df10a7/spl-doc
- Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
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.
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