Flumazenil

Introduction

Written by Julz Richterman, PharmD, MBA, BCGP
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on January 5, 2024

Flumazenil (FLOO may ze nil) is a generic medication that’s prescribed to reverse the sedating effects of a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. Flumazenil is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of flumazenil with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

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

Cost of flumazenil

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of flumazenil

To find out how much flumazenil 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 flumazenil” section.

Coupons for flumazenil

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

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of flumazenil may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of flumazenil. 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.
• 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 medications. HSA and FSA plans help people save money by using pretax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as prescription 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

Flumazenil is a generic medication. It’s not available in a brand-name 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.) Flumazenil is based on the brand-name version Romazicon, which is no longer available.

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

To learn more about the cost of flumazenil and the difference between generic and brand-name medications, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about flumazenil and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about flumazenil.  

Is flumazenil covered by Medicare?

Possibly. There are several types of Medicare plans, including Medicare Part A, B, and D. Prescription coverage may vary between plans. 

Flumazenil is usually given by a healthcare professional in a healthcare setting. So flumazenil could be covered under your Medicare Part A or Part B plan. But only some Medicare Part D prescription plans include flumazenil.

Speak with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance company to find out how much you would pay for flumazenil.

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 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 about flumazenil

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

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:

• Is flumazenil covered by my insurance?
• How will my copay for my procedure change if I am given flumazenil after it?
• Will the amount of flumazenil I use affect the cost?

Resources

• Flumazenil injection, USP. (2020). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/436f5616-9626-4b6a-9deb-2986444179d0/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.