Phenylacetate

Introduction

Written by Dedra Weiss, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Beth Johnston, PharmD, BCPS
Updated on February 14, 2024

Sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate(SOW dee um fen il AS e tate/SOW dee um BENZ oh ate) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for high levels of ammonia in the blood. The brand-name version of this drug is Ammonul. The cost with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate to treat:

• high levels of ammonia in the blood
• certain effects on brain function caused high ammonia levels, when the body is unable to convert ammonia to urea and eliminate urea from the body

Sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate comes as an injection that’s administered by a healthcare professional.

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

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Cost of sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate

Like other medications, the cost of sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate 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 sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate

To find out how much sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate costs, ask your doctor, health facility financial representative, 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 sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate” section.

Coupons for sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate. 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 sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate

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 sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and it’s administered 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 sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate. 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 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

Sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Ammonul.

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.

Ask your doctor if you’ll be treated with generic sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate or Ammonul. Your insurance plan may only cover only one version of the drug. The financial representative at the healthcare facility can talk with you about your treatment costs.

Common questions about sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate.

Is sodium pheylacetate/sodium benzoate covered by Medicare?

Phenylacetate/sodium benzoate may be covered, depending on your Medicare plan. The drug may be billed under your medical plan rather than your drug plan since it’s given by a healthcare professional at a medical facility.

Talk with your doctor or Medicare representative to find out whether this medication is covered by your Medicare plan and what your cost may be.

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 sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate

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

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:

• How does the cost of phenylacetate/sodium benzoate compare with the cost of Ammonul?
• Is there a less expensive medication that could treat my condition?
• What is the cost of administering phenylacetate/sodium benzoate in a healthcare facility? Is this cost separate from the cost of the drug?
• Does sodium phenylacetate/sodium benzoate come as an oral solution? If so, what is the cost?

Resources

• Ammonul (sodium phenylacetate and sodium benzoate) injection, for intravenous use. (2020). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/020645s012lbl.pdf
• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Sodium phenylacetate and sodium benzoate injection, for intravenous use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/0f17c50f-3761-4470-bf3b-63837a287b8a/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.