Gentamicin
Generic Gentak
Gentamicin (jen ta MYE sin) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for certain types of bacterial infections. Gentamicin is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of gentamicin with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
Gentamicin (jen ta MYE sin) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for certain types of bacterial infections. Gentamicin is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of gentamicin with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
- Generic
- • Solution
- • 5ml of .3pct
- • 1 Bottle
Dosage settings
Set your dosage
Make sure your dosage values are correct! In order for Optum Perks to provide the most accurate discount pricing for your prescription, take a moment to verify your dosage above.
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Intro
Introduction
Written by Dedra Weiss, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Bryson Russell, PharmD, MHSA, MSc
Updated on December 1, 2023
Gentamicin (jen ta MYE sin) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for certain types of bacterial infections. Gentamicin is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of gentamicin with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
Gentamicin comes in these forms: cream, ointment, injection, and eye drops.
Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved gentamicin to treat some types of infections caused by bacteria. These include certain:
Read on to learn about gentamicin and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about gentamicin, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Cost
Cost of gentamicin
Like other medications, the cost of gentamicin 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 gentamicin
To find out how much gentamicin 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 gentamicin” section.
Coupons
Coupons for gentamicin
Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of gentamicin.
These coupons 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
Insurance and other considerations for gentamicin
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 gentamicin. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for gentamicin. 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 gentamicin may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because gentamicin doses are given by a doctor or another healthcare professional. 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.
- A 3-month supply. If you’re using gentamicin 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
Generics vs. brand-names
Gentamicin is a generic medication. It’s not available in a brand-name version. Gentamicin comes in these forms: cream, ointment, injection, and eye drops.
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.) Gentamicin is based on some brand-name versions, including Garamycin, which are 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 versions.
FAQ
Common questions about gentamicin and cost
Here are some common questions about gentamicin and their answers.
Does the topical ointment form of gentamicin cost less than the injection form of the drug?
It’s possible. Depending on if you have insurance or not, gentamicin topical ointment may be cheaper than the injection form.
Gentamicin topical ointment is available at local pharmacies. Talk with your pharmacist or insurance provider to learn more about the cost of the topical ointment. Your cost will depend on your specific insurance plan, the pharmacy you use, and whether you have health coverage.
If your doctor prescribes gentamicin injection, you’ll receive your intramuscular or intravenous injections in a healthcare facility. Your cost will include the visit to a healthcare professional in addition to the cost of the medication. Talk with your doctor or insurance provider to learn more about the cost of gentamicin injection.
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
What to ask about gentamicin
This article provides cost information related to gentamicin. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. You’ll find a link to coupons for gentamicin 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:
- Do the costs differ for different forms of gentamicin?
- Is there another drug that you can prescribe for my condition that costs less than gentamicin?
- Is gentamicin available over the counter? If so, what is the cost?
Resources
Resources
- Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
- Gentamicin sulfate cream, USP 0.1%. (2021). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/c302559f-9e0e-4c55-857c-8fda546d61f0/spl-doc
- Gentamicin sulfate ointment, USP 0.1%. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/16474069-510b-0754-9d78-9bc0354f6549/spl-doc
- Gentamicin injection solution. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/51fffac8-fb6e-4f7f-b2de-440252781a42/spl-doc
- Gentamicin sulfate solution/drops USP 0.3%. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/f6fb1949-a89b-4fe0-afdc-31ca6c02e567/spl-doc
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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