Fluocinolone, Fluocinolone Scalp, Fluocinolone Body

Introduction

Written by Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS
Medically reviewed by Christina Bookwalter PharmD, MS MEd, BCPS, BCACP
Updated on November 9, 2023

Fluocinolone (floo oh SIN oh lone) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for relief of itching, inflammation, or redness. Some brand-name versions of this drug are Derma-Smoothe, DermOtic, and Iluvien. The cost of fluocinolone with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Fluocinolone comes in these forms:

• topical cream
• topical ointment
• topical solution
• topical oil
• ear drops

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved fluocinolone to treat sensitive skin symptoms such as inflammation, itching, dryness, and redness.

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

Cost of fluocinolone

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the dosage form of fluocinolone you’re prescribed

To find out how much fluocinolone 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 following section.

Coupons for fluocinolone

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of fluocinolone. The Optum Perks coupons 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 fluocinolone

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

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

Fluocinolone is a generic medication. Its brand-name versions are below:

• Intravitreal implant: A generic is not available for this form. The brand-name versions are Retisert, Yutiq, and Iluvein.
• Topical solution: A generic is available for this form. The brand-name version is Synalar.
• Topical cream: A generic is available for this form. The brand-name version is Synalar.
• Topical ointment: A generic is available for this form. The brand-name version is Synalar.
• Ear drops: A generic version is available for this form. The brand-name versions are DermOtic and Flac.
• Topical shampoo: A generic is not available for this form. The brand-name version is Capex.
• Topical body oil: A generic version is available for this form. The brand-name version is Derma-Smoothe FS.
• Topical scalp oil: A generic version is available for this form. The brand-name version is Derma-Smoothe FS.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. An active drug is the ingredient that 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 fluocinolone but you’re interested in taking 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 fluocinolone compares with its brand-name versions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about fluocinolone and cost

Here are some common questions about fluocinolone and their answers.

Is fluocinolone covered by Medicare?

Yes, this is possible. There are several different types of Medicare plans. Your coverage and cost may depend on your individual plan benefits. To find out whether fluocinolone is covered by your plan, reach out to your plan provider.

Keep in mind, if your plan has a prior authorization requirement, your doctor will discuss your options.

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 medication work.

This competition may help keep the 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 fluocinolone

This article provides cost information related to fluocinolone. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. You’ll find a link to coupons for fluocinolone near the beginning of this article.

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 of fluocinolone depend on the dosage form of the medication I’m prescribed?
• Are there other medications to treat my condition if I can’t afford fluocinolone?
• Is there a big cost difference between brand-name and generic versions of fluocinolone?

Resources

• Fluocinolone acetonide ear drops. (2023). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/e6af2549-50b5-4b7f-a0c0-de0f7626b6f3/spl-doc
• Fluocinolone acetonide topical oil, 0.01% (body oil). (2020). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/71541422-f12c-4e92-8012-dba59112070c/spl-doc
• Fluocinolone acetonide topical oil, 0.01% (scalp oil). (2020). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/c9e2b99e-1f64-4c21-99a7-a18963be2237/spl-doc
• Fluocinolone acetonide topical solution usp, 0.01% solution. (2023). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/ce89966d-d7ea-4986-936e-6d46aee497cd/spl-doc
• Fluocinolone topical cream 0.01%, 0.025%; Fluocinolone topical ointment 0.025%. (2022). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/de5b78ab-ff79-3e0f-cad4-ecab11ebbdcd/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.