Cyclophosphamide

Introduction

Written by Rachel Maynard, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Molly Becze, PharmD, BCPS
Updated on December 6, 2023

Cyclophosphamide (sye kloe FOS fa mide) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for certain cancers. It’s also prescribed for a kidney disorder in children. Cyclophosphamide is no longer available in a brand-name version. The cost of cyclophosphamide with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

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

Cost of cyclophosphamide

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

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

To find out how much cyclophosphamide 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 cyclophosphamide” section.

Coupons for cyclophosphamide

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

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 cyclophosphamide. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for cyclophosphamide. 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.
• Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of cyclophosphamide may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because cyclophosphamide doses may be 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.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re taking cyclophosphamide 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

Cyclophosphamide 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 medication work. Cyclophosphamide is based on the brand-name versions Cytoxan and Neosar, which are no longer available.

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 cyclophosphamide and cost

Here are some common questions about cyclophosphamide and their answers.  

How does the cost of cyclophosphamide compare with the cost of doxorubicin?

It depends. Doxorubicin is another drug used to treat certain types of cancer.

Many factors can affect your cost of a medication. These include:

• the drug’s dosage form
• the drug’s strength
• whether you have insurance, and what insurance plan covers
• where you get the drug, such as at a pharmacy, doctor’s clinic, or hospital

Talk with your insurance company, pharmacist, or doctor to find out the cost of your treatment.

Does cyclophosphamide injection cost more than the oral tablet form of the drug?

Possibly. Cyclophosphamide comes in several forms and strengths, and their costs may differ.

Cyclophosphamide comes in these forms:

• oral tablet, which is taken by mouth
• oral capsule, which is taken by mouth
• solution for injection into a vein
• powder that’s made into a solution for injection into a vein

Other factors may also affect the cost of a medication. This can include whether you get the drug at a pharmacy, doctor’s clinic, or hospital.

To find out what you’ll pay for cyclophosphamide, ask your doctor, pharmacist, 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 medication work.

This competition may help keep the 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 cyclophosphamide

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

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 cyclophosphamide?
• Are there other lower cost drugs that could be used to treat my condition?
• What options are available if I can’t afford my medication?

Resources

• Cyclophosphamide — cyclophosphamide capsule. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/8135b917-882f-4b4c-99b7-fa8ea54af4bf/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.