Ciloxan

Introduction

Medically reviewed by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Written by Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS
Updated on August 30, 2023

Ciprofloxacin is a generic medication that’s prescribed for types of bacterial infections. The brand-name versions of this drug are Cetraxal, Ciloxan, and Cipro. The cost of ciprofloxacin with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Ciprofloxacin comes in these forms:

• oral tablet and oral suspension (a liquid mixture) that you swallow
• liquid solution given as an injection by a healthcare professional
• liquid ophthalmic solution that’s placed in the eyes

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ciprofloxacin to treat certain bacterial infections in adults and children.

Examples of bacterial infections include:

• urinary tract infection
• sinus infection
• skin infection
• lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia

Ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution is approved to treat bacterial infections in the eyes. These include:

• conjunctivitis
• corneal ulcer

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

Cost of ciprofloxacin

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

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

To find out how much ciprofloxacin 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 ciprofloxacin

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

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 ciprofloxacin. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for ciprofloxacin. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin the medication 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 ciprofloxacin may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because ciprofloxacin injection 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.

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

Ciprofloxacin is a generic medication. Its brand-name versions are shown in the following table:

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 ciprofloxacin, but you’re interested in taking the brand-name version, 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 ciprofloxacin compares with its brand-name versions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about ciprofloxacin and cost

Here are some common questions about ciprofloxacin and their answers.  

Does ciprofloxacin 500-mg oral tablet cost less than ciprofloxacin eye drops?

Possibly. The cost of ciprofloxacin 500-milligram (mg) oral tablet or eye drops depends on whether you have insurance coverage or are paying out of pocket. Typically, your cost for ciprofloxacin oral tablets or eye drops will be lower with insurance.

Your cost without insurance for the oral tablet or the eye drops may depend on the pharmacy you use. The quantity of the medication you receive may also affect the cost.

For more information about the cost of ciprofloxacin 500-mg tablet and ciprofloxacin eye drops, ask your doctor or 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. 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 ciprofloxacin

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

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 cost for ciprofloxacin depend on my dosage of the medication?
• Is there a manufacturer copay savings card available for ciprofloxacin eye drops?
• Are there lower cost options you can prescribe to treat my condition?

Resources

• Ciprofloxacin injection, for intravenous infusion. (2022). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/cbbbf939-3219-4515-a48e-ca264daa4d07/spl-doc
• Ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution USP0.3%. (2023). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/0230000a-7549-4547-bd73-4dd57fae9c6b/spl-doc
• Ciprofloxacin tablet, for oral use. (2023). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/23dbc8a8-556c-40a5-a3fe-cd1f32300402/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.