Norepinephrine

Introduction

Written by Jen Seabright, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Fallon Mumford, PharmD
Updated on January 26, 2024

Norepinephrine (nor ep i NEF rin) is a generic medication that’s prescribed to increase low blood pressure in adults in an emergency. The brand-name version of this drug is Levophed. The cost of norepinephrine with or without insurance can depend on several factors.

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

Cost of norepinephrine

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of norepinephrine
• whether norepinephrine is covered under your medical or prescription insurance

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

Coupons for medications

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

However, you may not be able to use coupons for medications, such as norepinephrine, that are only given by a healthcare professional.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with 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 norepinephrine

Here’s a consideration about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Insurance coverage: Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of norepinephrine may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of norepinephrine. 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.

If you have questions about the consideration above, 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

Norepinephrine is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Levophed.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. An active drug is the ingredient that makes medication work. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re believed to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

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

Common questions about norepinephrine and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about norepinephrine.  

Is norepinephrine covered by Medicare?

Possibly. You can call your Medicare plan provider to find out whether your particular plan covers norepinephrine. There are many types of Medicare plans, so your coverage for this drug will be based on your specific plan benefits.

Talk with your plan provider or doctor or learn more about whether Medicare covers norepinephrine.

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 medication work.

This competition may help keep the 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 or pharmacist.

What to ask about norepinephrine

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

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:

• Will my dosage of norepinephrine affect the cost?
• Are there lower cost medications to treat my condition?
• What options do I have 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
• Norepinephrine bitartrate injection, for intravenous use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/fd398152-b428-4dca-8478-b691b909ee0e/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.