Indocin

Introduction

Medically reviewed by Timothy Ivers, PharmD
Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Updated on November 28, 2023

Indomethacin is a generic medication that’s prescribed for arthritis and other conditions. The brand-name version of its oral liquid form is Indocin. Other forms of indomethacin aren’t available in a brand-name version. The cost of indomethacin with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Indomethacin comes in these forms:

• oral capsule
• extended-release oral capsule
• oral liquid
• rectal suppository
• injection

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the oral and rectal dosage forms of indomethacin to relieve pain and inflammation from:

• rheumatoid arthritis
• ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis that mainly affects the spine)
• osteoarthritis
• gout attacks (swelling of the joints, often the joint of the big toe)
• shoulder bursitis or tendinitis

Indomethacin injection is approved to treat a heart problem that can occur in babies born early. It’s given by a healthcare professional in the hospital.

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

Cost of indomethacin

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost to receive indomethacin injection in a hospital setting

To find out how much indomethacin 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 indomethacin

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

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 indomethacin. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for indomethacin. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking 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 indomethacin injection may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because indomethacin injection doses are given by a doctor or another healthcare professional. The cost of the doses will depend on your specific insurance plan. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re taking indomethacin 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

Indomethacin is a generic medication. Its brand-name version is shown in the following table:

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

If your doctor has prescribed indomethacin but you’re interested in taking the liquid solution, Indocin, let them know. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers either version of the drug.

To learn how the cost of indomethacin compares with its liquid brand-name version, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company.

Common questions about indomethacin and cost

Here are some common questions about indomethacin and their answers.

Does indomethacin 25 mg cost less than indomethacin 50 mg?

Possibly. The strength is one factor that can affect the price you’ll pay for a medication. But there are other things that can affect the cost.

Insurance coverage is the main factor. Insurance plans differ in how they cover drugs and the copay they require. The dosage form may also affect the price of a prescription.

To find out how much your indomethacin prescription is likely to cost, contact your insurance provider. Or ask someone at your pharmacy. You can ask them to give you the price of both strengths of the drug.

How much does indomethacin cost without insurance?

In general, the amount you’ll pay for a drug, including indomethacin, will be higher if you don’t use insurance. But indomethacin is a generic drug, except for the oral liquid. Generic drugs tend to be less expensive than brand-name drugs.

If you don’t have insurance, you may be able to find online coupons to help with the cost of indomethacin. See the “Coupons for indomethacin” section.

You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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 without anyone else making their drug. 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, which have already been tested. So generic medications don’t require the same kind of costly testing as brand-name medications.

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 indomethacin

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

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:

• Are there lower cost drugs that could treat my condition?
• Does the dosage form of indomethacin affect the cost?
• What are my options if I can’t afford my prescriptions?

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
• Indocin (indomethacin) oral suspension, for oral use. (2021). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/018332s042lbl.pdf
• Indomethacin capsules, USP. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/9607920c-4d25-40b9-957e-87e9ca5574e8/spl-doc
• Indomethacin extended-release capsules for oral use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/41af7776-36bc-4820-b635-e7c69f26997e/spl-doc
• Indomethacin for injection. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/30e38747-c553-4e2d-bc23-634e1dd90b8d/spl-doc
• Indomethacin suppositories, for rectal use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/595e2f3e-c6d4-4a17-bc06-46512b4275b5/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.