Lidopin, Glydo, Lidocaine Jelly, 7T Lido Gel, Lido-sorb, Zionodil, Zionodil 100, Proxivol, Lidocaine (soln)

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Michael Rio, PharmD
Updated on January 25, 2024

Glydo is a branded-generic medication that’s given before certain medical procedures. It helps prevent or treat pain in the urethra, mouth, throat, or nose. Glydo is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of Glydo with or without insurance can depend on several factors.

Glydo is a branded-generic medication. Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredient. But branded-generic drugs are given a proprietary name by the drugmaker.

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

Cost of Glydo

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the cost of your procedure or hospital stay

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

Coupons for Glydo

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

However, coupons aren’t available for medications, such as Glydo, that are only given by a healthcare professional. Glydo is given by a healthcare professional before a medical procedure.

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 Glydo

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Insurance coverage. The price of Glydo will be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of Glydo. 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.
• 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 medical procedures, hospital stays, and 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 contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor know. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Glydo is a branded-generic medication. Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredient. But branded-generic drugs are given a proprietary name by the drugmaker.

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.) Glydo is based on the brand-name version Xylocaine, which is 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 version.

Common questions about Glydo and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Glydo.  

Is Glydo covered by Medicare?

Yes, Medicare plans are likely to cover Glydo. The federal government sets hospital and outpatient procedure payment rates for Medicare. Private medical insurance companies negotiate payment rates with hospitals. The payment rate will be specific to the diagnosis and procedures you have in the hospital or as an outpatient. Medications are included in this payment rate.

Medicare Part A would cover Glydo given as part of a hospital stay. Medicare Part B would cover Glydo given as part of an outpatient procedure.

You can learn more about the cost of Glydo by contacting your Medicare provider. 

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 patent and 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.

Glydo is a branded-generic medication. Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredient. But branded-generic drugs are given a proprietary name by the drugmaker. Branded-generic drugs usually cost less than brand-name drugs.

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 Glydo

This article provides cost information related to Glydo. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescriptions.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor. 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?
• Is the cost of Glydo included in my hospital billing?
• What are my options if I can’t afford my medical bills?

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   
• Glydo (lidocaine HCl jelly, USP) 2%. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/65760723-75cd-472c-96e1-7d05f95b4686/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.