Dexamethasone (eye)

Introduction

Medically reviewed by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Written by Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Updated on September 28, 2023

Dexamethasone is a generic medication that’s prescribed for reducing inflammation in many conditions. The brand-name versions of this drug are Dextenza, Dexycu, Hemady, Maxidex, and Ozurdex. The cost of dexamethasone with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Dexamethasone comes in these forms:

• oral tablet that you swallow
• oral solution, concentrate, and elixir that you swallow
• ophthalmic solution (eye drops)
• solution for injection

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved dexamethasone to lower inflammation related to conditions affecting:

• skin
• endocrine system
• digestive system, such as ulcerative colitis
• blood cells, such as autoimmune anemia, leukemia, and lymphoma
• nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis
• eyes
• lungs, such as pneumonia
• multiple areas of the body, such as lupus or gout

This is not a complete list of conditions that dexamethasone treats. If you have questions about whether dexamethasone is an option for your condition, talk with your doctor.

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

Cost of dexamethasone

Like other medications, the cost of dexamethasone 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 dexamethasone injections
• the condition that is being treated
• the dosage to treat your condition

To find out how much dexamethasone 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 dexamethasone

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

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 dexamethasone

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 dexamethasone. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for dexamethasone. 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 dexamethasone injections or infusions may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because dexamethasone injection or infusion 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 dexamethasone 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

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

Common questions about dexamethasone and cost

Here are some common questions about dexamethasone and their answers.  

Is the cost of dexamethasone similar to the cost of prednisone?

Possibly. Both dexamethasone and prednisone belong to a group of drugs called corticosteroids. They may be prescribed to treat some of the same conditions. The price you pay for each drug depends on several factors, including:

• the form of the drug you take
• insurance coverage, if you have it
• the pharmacy you choose
• the condition that is being treated

If you have questions about how much dexamethasone or prednisone costs, talk with your 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 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 dexamethasone

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

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:

• Can I use other forms of dexamethasone that may cost less to treat my condition?
• If I can’t afford my medication, what are my options?
• Can I get a higher quantity of dexamethasone to lower the cost?

Resources

• Dexamethasone elixir. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/3746066a-3c87-4238-945a-6dfb4d01a072/spl-doc
• Dexamethasone intensol solution, concentrate. (2016). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/a817ab46-54ec-4e3f-886b-04ce6ac1caf9/spl-doc
• Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection, solution. (2017). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/6d3cbd54-93ef-40fe-b15a-7a4f52dc5f71/spl-doc
• Dexamethasone sodium phosphate solution/drops. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/38620ec3-6300-41d2-a583-bc1fc7b0925c/spl-doc
• Dexamethasone tablet. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/fe8cf911-84ef-47be-acb8-0501b546299b/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.