Ibutilide

Introduction

Written by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Christina Bookwalter, PharmD, MS MEd, BCPS, BCACP
Updated on January 25, 2024

Ibutilide (i BYOO ti lide) is a generic medication that’s given in a hospital to treat certain irregular heart rhythms, including atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. The brand-name version of this drug is Corvert. The cost of ibutilide with or without insurance can depend on several factors.

Read on to learn about ibutilide and cost. If you’d like more information about ibutilide, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. 

Cost of ibutilide

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• whether ibutilide is covered under your medical or prescription insurance
• the cost to stay in the hospital and have a healthcare professional give doses of ibutilide

To find out how much ibutilide costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Coupons for medications

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of certain medications. Optum Perks coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

However, you might not be able to use coupons for medications like ibutilide, as these are only given by a healthcare professional.

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 ibutilide

Here’s a consideration about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Insurance coverage: Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of ibutilide may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of ibutilide in a hospital. The cost will depend on your specific insurance plan and location. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.

If you have questions about this consideration, 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 ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Ibutilide is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Corvert.

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.

To learn how the cost of ibutilide compares with the cost of Corvert, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about ibutilide and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about ibutilide.  

Is ibutilide covered by Medicare?

Most likely, yes. In general, if you have Medicare, the medications you receive during a hospital stay are covered. Keep in mind that ibutilide is only given in a hospital by a doctor or another healthcare professional.

If you have questions about this, talk with your doctor or Medicare representative, or contact the hospital’s financial services department.

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 ibutilide

This article provides cost information related to ibutilide. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on prescriptions. Above on this page, you’ll find coupon information. However, you might not be able to use coupons for medications like ibutilide, as these are only given by a healthcare professional.

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 dosage of ibutilide affect the cost?
• How much will I need to pay for the hospital stay to receive ibutilide treatment?
• What options do I have if I can’t afford this treatment?

Resources

• Corvert (ibutilide fumarate) injection. (2023). https://labeling.pfizer.com/showlabeling.aspx?id=673
• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm   
• Ibutilide fumarate injection. (2020). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/c25d21e7-6136-4a7a-b139-12f53116fc3d/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.