Neoprofen

Introduction

Written by Jen Seabright, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Michael Rio, PharmD
Updated on February 15, 2024

Ibuprofen (eye byoo PROE fen) lysine is a generic medication that’s prescribed for a certain heart problem in preterm infants. The brand-name version of this drug is Neoprofen. The cost of ibuprofen lysine with or without insurance can depend on several factors.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ibuprofen lysine to close patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in certain preterm infants. With PDA, the opening between the two main blood vessels in the heart does not close after birth.

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

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Cost of ibuprofen lysine

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

• your child’s insurance plan if they have coverage
• whether ibuprofen lysine is covered under your child’s medical insurance or their prescription insurance
• the cost of having a healthcare professional give doses of ibuprofen lysine

To find out how much ibuprofen lysine costs, ask your child’s doctor 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 ibuprofen lysine, as these are only given by a healthcare professional.

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 ibuprofen lysine

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

• Prior authorization: If your child has prescription drug insurance, their insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of ibuprofen lysine. In this case, their doctor will communicate with the insurance company regarding the prescription for ibuprofen lysine. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and it’s given without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• Insurance coverage: Even if your child’s policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of ibuprofen lysine may instead be billed through medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of ibuprofen lysine. The cost of the doses will depend on your child’s specific insurance plan and whether the doses are given at their doctor’s clinic or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact the doctor or your child’s 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 copays. These include copays for your child’s hospital stay while they receive doses of ibuprofen lysine. HSA and FSA plans allow people to save money by using pretax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as copays, and prescription and over-the-counter 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 child’s doctor. Or contact the insurance company and talk with a representative.

If your child doesn’t have a health insurance plan, let their doctor know. You can also ask about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Ibuprofen lysine is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Neoprofen.

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.

Before your child’s procedure, you can ask their doctor whether ibuprofen lysine or Neoprofen will be prescribed. The hospital or health system may have a financial representative who can discuss possible costs with you.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about generic and brand-name medications.

Common questions about ibuprofen lysine and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about ibuprofen lysine.

How much does ibuprofen lysine cost with insurance?

If your child has insurance, the cost of ibuprofen lysine may depend on their specific plan benefits and their dosage of the drug.

To find out how much ibuprofen lysine will cost with insurance, contact your child’s insurance provider or doctor. You can also see the “Cost of ibuprofen lysine” section for more details.

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 ibuprofen lysine

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

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your child’s doctor. You can also contact their insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• Will the dosage of ibuprofen lysine that’s prescribed for my child affect the cost?
• Are there any low cost medications that work the same as ibuprofen lysine?
• What are my options if I can’t afford this medication for my child?

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
• Ibuprofen lysine injection, for intravenous use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/307431c7-12de-21e5-e054-00144ff88e88/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.