Dolishale, Levonorgestrel And Ethinyl Estradiol, Amethyst

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Updated on January 8,2024

Amethyst is a branded-generic medication that’s prescribed to help prevent pregnancy. It’s not available in a brand version. The cost of Amethyst with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon. 

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

Cost of Amethyst

Like other medications, the cost of Amethyst 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 Amethyst 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 Amethyst” section.

Coupons for Amethyst

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

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

Brand-names vs. generics

Amethyst is a branded-generic medication. It’s not available in a brand version.

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.) Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active drugs. But branded-generic drugs are given a trade name by the drugmaker.

Branded-generics and generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

Common questions about Amethyst and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Amethyst.

How does the cost of Amethyst compare with the cost of other birth control pills?

It depends. Amethyst and many other birth control pills contain the same active ingredients. One example is Dolishale. There are also several types of birth control pills that you can take in the same way as Amethyst. But, the price of Amethyst and the price of other birth control pills can vary depending on how you are paying for your prescription.

If you’re using insurance, most plans cover generic birth control, including Amethyst, if you have a prescription for it. However, insurance coverage and copays for different types of birth control can vary depending on your specific health insurance plan.

If you are paying cash, the price may depend on the pharmacy you use and if you have a coupon for the drug.

You can learn more about the cost of Amethyst and how it compares with other birth control pills by contacting your insurance provider. Or you can ask your pharmacist.

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 without anyone else making their drug. 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 the ingredient that makes a medication work.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name medications, which have already been tested. 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 Amethyst

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

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:

• How does the cost of Amethyst compare with other similar birth control pills?
• How does the cost of Amethyst compare with other long-term forms of birth control?
• What are my options if I can’t afford my medication?

Resources

• Amethyst – levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablet. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/99073fe0-eac8-44dd-abe6-623fa67d9e79/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). 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.