Digoxin, Digitek, Digox

Introduction

Medically reviewed by Molly Becze, PharmD, BCPS
Written by Dedra Weiss, PharmD
Updated on October 30, 2023

Digoxin is a generic medication that’s prescribed for heart failure and a type of irregular heartbeat. The brand-name version of this drug is Lanoxin. The cost of digoxin with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Digoxin comes in these forms: oral tablet, oral solution, and liquid solution given by intravenous injection (into the vein) or intramuscular injection (into the muscle).

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved digoxin to:

• treat mild to moderate heart failure in adults
• help manage resting ventricular heart rate (the lower heart chambers) in adults with chronic atrial fibrillation
• improve heart contractions in children with heart failure

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

Cost of digoxin

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the form of digoxin you’re prescribed

To find out how much digoxin 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 digoxin

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

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 digoxin. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for digoxin. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking/using 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 digoxin may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because digoxin 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.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re taking digoxin 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

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

If your doctor has prescribed digoxin, but you’re interested in taking Lanoxin, 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 digoxin compares with its brand-name versions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about digoxin and cost

Here are some common questions about digoxin and their answers.

Is digoxin available over the counter (OTC)? If so, does it cost less to get it OTC than as a prescription?

Digoxin isn’t available OTC. It requires a prescription.

Digoxin comes as a tablet, an oral solution, and an injection. You can obtain tablets and oral solution from a pharmacy with a prescription, but injections are given by a healthcare professional.

The tablets come in both generic and brand-name versions. The generic forms of medications typically cost less than brand-name versions.

Talk with your pharmacist or health insurance provider about the cost of digoxin. Your cost will depend on your treatment plan, the pharmacy you use, whether you have insurance coverage, and your plan type.

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.

What to ask about digoxin

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

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 my dosage of digoxin affect the cost?
• Does digoxin oral solution cost more than digoxin tablets?
• Is there another, less expensive drug option to treat my condition?

Resources

• Digoxin injection. (2021). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/75c99fc4-33b6-c3ce-e053-2991aa0a4d88/spl-doc
• Digoxin tablet. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/9f5f6254-2b3a-46ce-9b55-e5826caeed91/spl-doc
• Digoxin solution. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/eda7193a-e139-41d5-a11b-dc6241645995/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
• Lanoxin (digoxin) injection. (2022). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/009330Orig1s036lbl.pdf
• Lanoxin (digoxin) tablets. (2019). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/020405s015lbl.pdf

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.