Etomidate
Generic Amidate
Etomidate (e TOM i date) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for general anesthesia. The brand-name version of this drug is Amidate. The cost of etomidate with or without insurance can depend on several factors.
Etomidate (e TOM i date) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for general anesthesia. The brand-name version of this drug is Amidate. The cost of etomidate with or without insurance can depend on several factors.
- Generic
- • Solution
- • 20ml of 2mg/ml
- • 1 Vial
Dosage settings
Set your dosage
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Intro
Introduction
Written by Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS
Medically reviewed by Paul Hetrick, PharmD
Updated on February 1, 2024
Etomidate (e TOM i date) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for general anesthesia. The brand-name version of this drug is Amidate. The cost of etomidate with or without insurance can depend on several factors.
Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved etomidate:
- to induce general anesthesia
- to be used in addition to certain other anesthetics, such as nitrous oxide in oxygen, to maintain anesthesia during shorter surgical procedures
Read on to learn about etomidate and cost. If you’d like more information about etomidate, including its use, talk with your doctor.
Cost
Cost of etomidate
Like other medications, the cost of etomidate can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:
- your insurance plan, if you have coverage
- the cost to receive doses of etomidate in a hospital or a clinic by a healthcare professional
To find out how much etomidate costs, ask your doctor or insurance provider.
Coupons
Coupons for medications
Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of certain medications. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
However, coupons aren’t available for medications, such as etomidate, that are only given by a healthcare professional.
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
Insurance and other considerations for etomidate
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 certain medications. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you’re given the medication without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug. For a surgical procedure, your doctor will usually have to get prior authorization. Once your insurance company authorizes it, the medications used by your anesthesiologist to provide anesthesia, such as etomidate, also will be approved.
- Insurance coverage: Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of etomidate will likely be billed through your medical coverage. This is because an anesthesiologist or another healthcare professional gives doses of etomidate. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan and whether you receive the doses at an outpatient surgery clinic or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
- 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 contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.
If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor know. They can discuss ways to obtain health insurance coverage.
Generics vs. brand-names
Generics vs. brand-names
Etomidate is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Amidate.
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.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.
Prior to your procedure, ask your doctor whether generic etomidate or Amidate will be prescribed for you. The hospital or health system may have a financial representative who can discuss possible costs with you.
FAQ
Common questions about etomidate and cost
Here are some common questions about etomidate and their answers.
How does the cost of etomidate compare with the cost of propofol?
The cost of etomidate compared to the cost of propofol depends on various factors. For example, your cost for each medication may depend on whether you have insurance coverage or are paying out of pocket. Typically, your cost for either medication will be higher without insurance.
Other factors that may affect your cost include:
- the cost to receive doses of the medication by a healthcare professional
- your dose and treatment plan
- which medication is covered by insurance (if any)
To find out how the cost of etomidate and propofol compare, talk with your doctor or insurance provider (if you have one). Keep in mind, your plan may have prior authorization requirements to cover the cost of either medication. For more information on prior authorization, see the “Insurance and other considerations” section above.
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 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. 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
What to ask about etomidate
This article provides cost information related to etomidate. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescriptions. Above on this page, you’ll find coupon information. However, coupons aren’t available for medications, such as etomidate, that are only given by a healthcare professional.
If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor. 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 etomidate depend on my dosage of the medication?
- Will my cost for the medication be higher if I receive it in the hospital versus a clinic?
- What are my options if I can’t afford etomidate?
Resources
Resources
- Etomidate injection, USP: For intravenous use. (2023). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/f38fad46-f2dd-4692-a2a9-a13d0a717bf8/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.
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