Epiduo, Adapalene-benzoyl Peroxide

Introduction

Written by Jen Seabright, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Brittany A. Duke, PharmD, RPh
Updated on March 1, 2024

Adapalene/benzoyl peroxide (a DAP a leen and BEN zoe il peer OKS ide) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for acne treatment in adults and some children. The brand-name versions of this drug are Epiduo Forte and Epiduo Gel. The cost of adapalene/benzoyl peroxide with or without insurance can depend on several factors.

Specifically, adapalene/benzoyl peroxide gel pads are prescribed to treat acne in adults and children ages 9 years and older. Adapalene/benzoyl peroxide gel is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat acne in adults and children ages 12 years and older.

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

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Cost of adapalene/benzoyl peroxide

Like other medications, the cost of adapalene/benzoyl peroxide can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the quantity/amount prescribed
• the drug form you’re prescribed

To find out how much adapalene/benzoyl peroxide 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 adapalene/benzoyl peroxide” section.

Coupons for adapalene/benzoyl peroxide

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of adapalene/benzoyl peroxide. 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 adapalene/benzoyl peroxide

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 adapalene/benzoyl peroxide. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for adapalene/benzoyl peroxide. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin using it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply: If you’re using adapalene/benzoyl peroxide 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.

Generics vs. brand-names

Adapalene/benzoyl peroxide is a generic medication. Its brand-name versions are shown in the following table:

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. An active ingredient is what 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 adapalene/benzoyl peroxide but you’re interested in using Epiduo or Epiduo Forte, let them know. They may have a reason to prescribe one medication over the other. Also, check which forms of the drug your insurance plan covers, as it may not cover all forms.

To learn how the cost of adapalene/benzoyl peroxide compares with its brand-name versions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about adapalene/benzoyl peroxide and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about adapalene/benzoyl peroxide.  

How does the cost of adapalene/benzoyl peroxide compare with the cost of tretinoin?

Like adapalene/benzoyl peroxide, tretinoin is a topical medication that’s used to treat acne.

What you’ll pay for adapalene/benzoyl peroxide or tretinoin depends on several factors, including:

• the quantity of medication your doctor prescribes
• if you’re paying out of pocket or using insurance coverage
• if there are any copay cards or discounts available for the medication

To learn more about the cost of adapalene/benzoyl peroxide compared with other acne treatments, talk with 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 patent and 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 ingredient in a brand-name medication. An active ingredient is what makes medication work.

This competition may help keep the costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active ingredients 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 adapalene/benzoyl peroxide

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

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 length of treatment affect the cost?
• Are there other lower cost medications available to treat my condition?
• What options do I have if I can’t afford my medication?

Resources

• Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide gel pad 0.1%/2.5%, for topical use. (2022). https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=aa01a9c6-d55f-4c00-9856-9cdc31adeaf6
• Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide topical gel. (2023). https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=73a32997-23da-46b6-8652-7197f55c9847
• 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.