Epinephrine

Introduction

Written by Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS
Medically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Updated on September 20, 2023

Epinephrine is a generic medication that’s prescribed for severe allergic reactions. The brand-name versions of this drug are Adrenaclick, Adrenalin, Auvi-Q, EpiPen, EpiPen Jr, and Symjepi. The cost of epinephrine with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Epinephrine comes in these forms:

• single dose injection in a prefilled syringe that’s given as an infusion into a vein by a healthcare professional
• single dose injection in prefilled autoinjector given subcutaneously or intramuscularly into the thigh

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

• treat severe allergic reaction including anaphylaxis in adults and children
• raise blood pressure in adults with very low blood pressure from septic shock

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

Cost of epinephrine

Like other medications, the cost of epinephrine 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 epinephrine

To find out how much epinephrine 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 epinephrine” section.

Coupons for epinephrine

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

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 epinephrine. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for epinephrine. 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.
• Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of epinephrine infusions may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because epinephrine injection may be given by a doctor or another healthcare professional as an infusion. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan and whether you receive the doses at your doctor’s office, a clinic, or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.

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

Epinephrine 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 epinephrine but you’re interested in using 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 epinephrine compares with its brand-name versions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about epinephrine and cost

Here are some common questions about epinephrine and their answers.  

How much does epinephrine cost out of pocket, or without insurance?

Your out-of-pocket cost, or cost without insurance, for epinephrine can vary based on various factors.

These may include:

• the dosage form you’re prescribed
• if a healthcare professional gives your epinephrine dose
• your insurance plan and benefits
• the pharmacy you use

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about the out-of-pocket cost of epinephrine for you.

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 epinephrine

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

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 cost for epinephrine depend on my dosage of the medication?
• How does the cost of generic epinephrine compare with EpiPen?
• Are there coupons available for brand-name versions of epinephrine?

Resources

• Epinephrine injection 0.3 mg for intramuscular or subcutaneous use; Epinephrine injection, 0.15 mg, for intramuscular or subcutaneous use. (2021). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/59dc8445-6cec-40f0-8bde-c23510293509/spl-doc
• Epinephrine injection for intravenous use. (2023). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/0172280c-f7d6-4613-9dbd-f94d3ae5825a/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.