Lidocort, Lidocaine-hydrocortisone Ace, Ana-lex, Lidocaine-hydrocort (perianal)

Introduction

Written by Rachel Maynard, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on February 20, 2024

Lidocort is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed to help manage pain and itching. There are also generic versions called lidocaine/hydrocortisone. The cost of Lidocort with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Specifically, Lidocort is prescribed* to temporarily relieve pain and itching due to minor burns, sunburns, minor skin irritations, hemorrhoids, and eczema.

Read on to learn about Lidocort and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Lidocort, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. 

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* The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Lidocort. This is because the drug has been available since before the FDA began its drug approval process. If you have questions about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Cost of Lidocort

Like other medications, the cost of Lidocort 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 Lidocort 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 Lidocort” section.

Coupons for Lidocort

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

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 Lidocort. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Lidocort. 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.
• Savings accounts: If you’re eligible for a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), you can likely use funds from these accounts to pay for your prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. HSA and FSA plans help people save money by using pretax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as prescription and OTC drugs. To learn more about whether you’re eligible for these savings accounts and how to use them, talk with your insurance provider or employer.

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.

Brand names vs. generics

Lidocort is a brand-name medication. There are also generic versions available called lidocaine/hydrocortisone. Lidocort may also be available in other brand-name 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.) 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 Lidocort, but you’re interested in using lidocaine/hydrocortisone, let your doctor know. They may have a reason to prescribe one medication over the other. Also, check which version of the drug your insurance plan covers, as it may not cover all versions.

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

Common questions about Lidocort and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Lidocort.  

Is Lidocort covered by Medicare?

It depends on your Medicare drug plan. Like other insurance plans, Medicare coverage of prescription drugs may vary based on your specific plan. Each plan has its own drug list, also called a formulary. If Lidocort isn’t on your plan’s formulary, a different drug used to treat your condition may be covered.

The price you’ll pay for Lidocort can also depend on other factors, such as the pharmacy you use and whether you’ve paid your deductible for the year.

Talk with your insurance provider, pharmacist, or doctor if you have questions about the cost of Lidocort.

Can I use an OTC drug instead of Lidocort to lower my costs?

Not necessarily. Several OTC products are available to treat pain and itching. But they may have different ingredients, strengths, and forms than Lidocort. And not all products are recommended for the same conditions.

If your doctor has prescribed Lidocort but you’re interested in using an OTC product instead, let your doctor know. They may have a reason to recommend one medication over the other.

Also ask your pharmacist or doctor before using an OTC product for your condition. Many products have the same ingredients, and your pharmacist or doctor can help you avoid using more medication than you need.

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 Lidocort

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

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 generic versions of Lidocort that I can use to help lower my cost?
• Does my insurance cover the cost of Lidocort?
• Are there other similar products to treat my condition that may cost less than Lidocort?
• Can I use an OTC medication instead of Lidocort to save money?
• What options are available if I can’t afford my medication?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm   
• Lidocort (lidocaine HCl 3% – hydrocortisone acetate 0.5% cream). (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/ae49ddc6-26f0-7f92-e053-2995a90ab2f9/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.