Cholestyramine Light, Prevalite

Introduction

Written by Jen Seabright, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on January 23, 2024

Prevalite is a branded-generic* medication that’s prescribed for high cholesterol in adults and children. The cost of Prevalite with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Prevalite to lower cholesterol in adults and children with high LDL cholesterol. It’s prescribed when dietary changes have not lowered cholesterol enough.

Prevalite is also approved to treat itching that’s caused by blocked bile ducts. It comes as a powder that you mix into liquid before taking by swallowing.

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

* Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredient(s). But branded-generic drugs are generics that are given a trade name by the drugmaker.

Cost of Prevalite

Like other medications, the cost of Prevalite 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 Prevalite 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 “Coupons for Prevalite” section.

Coupons for Prevalite

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of Prevalite. The Optum Perks coupons above 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.

Insurance and other considerations for Prevalite

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 Prevalite. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Prevalite. 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 Prevalite 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.
• 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. 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 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

Prevalite is a branded-generic medication.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. An active ingredient is what makes medication work. Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredient(s). But branded-generic drugs are generics that are given a trade name by the drugmaker.

Generics and branded-generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re believed to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.

Common questions about Prevalite and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Prevalite.  

How does the cost of Prevalite compare with the cost of other similar drugs, such as Questran?

Questran is a brand-name drug that contains the active ingredient cholestyramine. This is the same ingredient found in Prevalite. Because Questran is a brand-name drug, it’s likely to cost more than Prevalite, which is a branded-generic drug.

If you have insurance, you can ask your plan provider which drug they prefer. If you don’t have insurance, you can check with your pharmacist for the cost of these drugs.

If you want to know which drug is best for you, ask your doctor.

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 ingredient in a brand-name medication. An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.

This competition may help keep the costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active ingredients 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 Prevalite

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

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:

• Will the quantity of Prevalite my doctor prescribes affect my cost?
• Are there lower cost medications available to treat my condition?
• What options do I have if I can’t afford my medication?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Prevalite (cholestyramine) powder for suspension, USP. (2020). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/dd434ef8-8af3-434c-a0a0-9a0b18459ba0/spl-doc

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.