Levothyroxine, Synthroid, Tirosint-sol, Thyquidity, Tirosint, Ermeza

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Updated on April 10, 2023

Levothyroxine is a generic medication that’s prescribed for hypothyroidism and certain thyroid cancers. It comes as several brand-name drugs, including Levoxyl, Synthroid, and Unithroid. The cost of levothyroxine with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.Levothyroxine is available in these forms: a capsule and a tablet that you swallow.

It also comes in injectable forms that doctors use to treat myxedema coma. This is a very serious form of hypothyroidism that is a life threatening medical emergency.

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

Cost of levothyroxine

As with other medications, the cost of levothyroxine can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use

To find out how much levothyroxine 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 levothyroxine” section.

Coupons for levothyroxine

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

Common questions about levothyroxine and cost

Here are some common questions about levothyroxine and their answers. 

How much does levothyroxine cost without insurance?

Insurance coverage is one of the main factors in the cost of prescription drugs. In general, the cost tends to be higher if you pay out of pocket instead of using insurance. But levothyroxine is a generic drug, and generics are usually more affordable than brand-name drugs.

If you’re paying for levothyroxine without insurance, you may be able to find online coupons to help with the cost. See the “Coupons for levothyroxine” section.

Does levothyroxine 100 mcg cost less than levothyroxine 125 mcg?

It’s possible. Levothyroxine comes in many different strengths, from 13 micrograms (mcg) to 300 mcg. The dosage strength of your prescription may be a factor in the cost. But there are other factors, including insurance coverage. If you have insurance, your cost will depend on how your plan covers levothyroxine and the copay they charge for it.

You can find out how much you’ll pay for a levothyroxine prescription by contacting your insurance provider or pharmacy.

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.

Insurance and other considerations for levothyroxine

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 levothyroxine. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for levothyroxine. 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 levothyroxine may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because levothyroxine 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 taking levothyroxine 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

Levothyroxine is a generic medication. It’s also available as several brand-name drugs. See the table below for details.

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 versions.

If your doctor has prescribed levothyroxine but you’re interested in taking any of the brand name drugs, 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 levothyroxine compares with its brand-name versions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

What to ask about levothyroxine

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

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 there a cost difference between the levothyroxine tablet and capsule?
• What will my copay be for my levothyroxine prescription?
• How much would my prescription cost without insurance?
• What are my options if I can’t afford my medications?

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
• Levothyroxine sodium- levothyroxine sodium capsule. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/686ba2cf-7651-44de-9b4d-eeaaf2a0e364/spl-doc
• Levothyroxine sodium- levothyroxine sodium injection. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/76139990-1355-cfb6-e053-2991aa0ace5b/spl-doc
• Levothyroxine sodium- levothyroxine sodium injection, solution. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/6279390b-ee61-4ef9-ac15-25537ca783c1/spl-doc
• Levothyroxine sodium- levothyroxine sodium tablet. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/631540ac-e66c-4665-8efb-87616fa9829e/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.