Ceftazidime, Tazicef

Introduction

Written by Rachel Maynard, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Paul Hetrick, PharmD
Updated on January 17, 2024

Ceftazidime (SEF tay zi deem) is a generic medication that’s prescribed to treat certain types of bacterial infections. The brand-name version of this drug is Tazicef. The cost of ceftazidime with or without insurance can depend on several factors.

Read on to learn about ceftazidime and cost. If you’d like more information about ceftazidime, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. 

Cost of ceftazidime

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of ceftazidime
• whether ceftazidime is covered under your medical insurance or your prescription benefit

To find out how much ceftazidime costs, ask your doctor or insurance provider.

Coupons for ceftazidime

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of certain drugs. Optum Perks coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

However, coupons aren’t available for medications, such as ceftazidime, that are only given by a healthcare professional.

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 for ceftazidime

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 ceftazidime. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for ceftazidime. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin treatment 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 ceftazidime may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of ceftazidime. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan and whether you receive the doses at your doctor’s clinic, hospital, or long-term care facility. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.

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

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor know. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Ceftazidime is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Tazicef.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what 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 version.

If your doctor has prescribed ceftazidime but you’re interested in taking Tazicef, let them know. They may have a reason to prescribe one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers only one version of the drug.

To learn how the cost of ceftazidime compares with its brand-name version, talk with your doctor. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about ceftazidime and cost

Here are some common questions about ceftazidime and their answers.  

How does the cost of ceftazidime compare with the cost of ceftriaxone or cefepime?

It depends. Similar to ceftazidime, ceftriaxone and cefepime are antibiotics that may be used to treat bacterial infections.

Many factors can affect the cost of these medications, such as:

• whether you have insurance and what your insurance plan covers
• where you get the drug, such as at a doctor’s clinic, hospital, or long-term care facility
• the drug’s form
• the drug’s strength
• your treatment plan

Whether you’re prescribed any one of these drugs depends on the type of bacterial infection you have and which drug is effective in treating it.

Talk with your insurance provider, pharmacist, or doctor if you have questions about how the cost of these drugs compare.

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 or pharmacist.

What to ask about ceftazidime

This article provides cost information related to ceftazidime. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for ceftazidime. However, coupons aren’t available for medications, such as ceftazidime, that are only given by a healthcare professional.

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:

• Does my insurance cover the cost of ceftazidime?
• Are there lower-cost drugs that could be used to treat my condition?
• What options are available if I can’t afford my medication?

Resources

• Ceftazidime- ceftazidime injection, powder, for solution. (2021). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/22d6534c-4488-48a1-8d78-e2fb908259de/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). 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.