Chlorothiazide

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Bryson Russell, PharmD, MHSA, MSc
Updated on January 10, 2024

Chlorothiazide (klor oh THYE a zide) injection is a generic medication that’s given for edema (fluid retention). Chlorothiazide injection is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of chlorothiazide with or without insurance can depend on several factors.

Read on to learn about chlorothiazide and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your other prescriptions. If you’d like more information about chlorothiazide, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. 

Cost of chlorothiazide

Like other medications, the cost of chlorothiazide 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 injections of chlorothiazide
• the cost of your hospital stay  
• the cost of having a home health service that gives injections of chlorothiazide

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

Coupons for medications

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of your medications. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your other prescription costs.

However, coupons aren’t available for medications, such as chlorothiazide, 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 chlorothiazide

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

• Insurance coverage. The price of chlorothiazide will be billed through your medical insurance. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives injections of chlorothiazide. The cost of your injections 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.
• Savings accounts. If you’re eligible for a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), you can likely use funds from these accounts to pay for your prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications and even bills from healthcare professionals. HSA and FSA plans help people save money by using pretax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as prescription and OTC drugs. To learn more about whether you’re eligible for these savings accounts and how to use them, talk with your insurance provider or employer.

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

Chlorothiazide injection 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.) Chlorothiazide injection is based on the brand-name version Diuril injection, 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 versions.

Common questions about chlorothiazide and cost

Here are some common questions about chlorothiazide and their answers.  

How does the cost of chlorothiazide compare with the cost of chlorthalidone?

It depends. Chlorthalidone also treats edema (fluid retention). But it comes in an oral form that you swallow. You can get chlorthalidone with a prescription at your pharmacy. Its price can vary depending on whether you are using insurance or paying cash. Insurance companies may vary in how they cover chlorthalidone and the copay they charge for it.

The cost of chlorothiazide injection will depend on your medical insurance, if you have it. The government sets hospital and outpatient services payment rates for Medicare and Medicaid. Private medical insurance companies negotiate these payment rates. The payment rate will be specific to the diagnosis and procedures you have in the hospital or outpatient setting. Medications, such as chlorothiazide, are included in this payment rate.

You can learn more about how the cost of chlorothiazide compares to chlorthalidone by contacting your insurance provider. 

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 without anyone else making their drug. 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 ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name medications, which have already been tested. 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 chlorothiazide

This article provides cost information related to chlorothiazide. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for chlorothiazide.

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:

• Are there lower-cost drugs that could treat my condition?
• How is the cost of chlorothiazide billed?
• What are my options if I can’t afford my medical bills?

Resources

• Chlorthalidone sodium for injection, USP. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/de250776-461a-4d02-a82e-ffedca1a9cf4/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.