Palonosetron

Introduction

Written by Rachel Maynard, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Christina Bookwalter, PharmD, MS MEd, BCPS, BCACP
Updated on February 1, 2024

Palonosetron (pal oh NOE se tron) is a generic medication that’s prescribed to prevent nausea and vomiting. Palonosetron is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of palonosetron with or without insurance can depend on several factors.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved palonosetron to prevent nausea and vomiting:

• due to certain types of chemotherapy for cancer in adults and children
• after surgery in adults

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

Cost of palonosetron

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

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

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

Coupons for medications

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

However, coupons aren’t available for medications, such as palonosetron, that 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 palonosetron

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 palonosetron. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for palonosetron. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin treatment 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 palonosetron may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of palonosetron. 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 certain medical expenses. HSA and FSA plans help people save money by using pretax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses. 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.

Generics vs. brand-names

Palonosetron is a generic medication. It’s not available in a brand-name version.

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.) Palonosetron is based on the brand-name version Aloxi, 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 palonosetron and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about palonosetron.

How does the cost of palonosetron compare with the cost of ondansetron?

The cost of either drug depends on a few factors, such as:

• whether you have insurance and what your insurance plan covers
• where you get the drug, such as at a hospital, doctor’s clinic, or pharmacy
• the drug’s dosage form
• the drug’s strength

Ondansetron is another drug that can be given by injection to prevent nausea and vomiting. Ondansetron also comes in other forms, such as an oral tablet. Palonosetron only comes as an injection. There may be reasons why a doctor prescribes palonosetron over ondansetron or vice versa.

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

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.

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 palonosetron

This article provides cost information related to palonosetron. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescriptions. Above on this page, you’ll find coupon information. However, coupons aren’t available for medications, such as palonosetron, that are only given by a healthcare professional.

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:

• Does my insurance cover the cost of palonosetron?
• Are there other lower cost drugs that could be used for 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
• Palonosetron hydrochloride injection, for intravenous use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/42e2d437-0712-4e9c-9c2a-00093c406d62/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.