Precedex Hcl, Igalmi

Introduction

Written by Dedra Weiss, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Updated on January 5, 2024

Dexmedetomidine (deks MED e toe mi deen) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for sedation in a hospital setting. The brand-name version* of this drug is Precedex. The cost of dexmedetomidine with or without insurance can depend on several factors.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved dexmedetomidine to:

• sedate mechanically ventilated adults who’ve been intubated in a hospital setting and are being treated in an intensive care unit (ICU).
• sedate adults before and during surgery or certain other procedures.

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

* Igalmi is another brand name version of dexmedetomidine. However, it’s approved for different uses and isn’t available in generic form.

Cost of dexmedetomidine

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the cost of having a healthcare professional give doses of dexmedetomidine

To find out how much dexmedetomidine costs, contact your doctor or insurance provider.

Insurance and other considerations for dexmedetomidine

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

• Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of dexmedetomidine may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of dexmedetomidine. 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 pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as 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 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. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Dexmedetomidine is a generic medication. Its brand-name versions are shown in the following table:

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. An active ingredient is what 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 versions.

If your doctor has prescribed dexmedetomidine but you’re interested in Precedex, let them know. They may have a reason to prescribe one medication over the other. Also, check which forms of the drug your insurance plan covers, as it may not cover all forms.

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

* Igalmi oral film is not prescribed for the same uses as Precedex and dexmedetomidine injection. Igalmi is approved to treat agitation associated with a certain mental health disorder and isn’t available in a generic version.

Common questions about dexmedetomidine and cost

Here are some common questions about dexmedetomidine and their answers.  

How does the cost of dexmedetomidine compare with the cost of midazolam or propofol?

Dexmedetomidine, midazolam, and propofol are generic medications. Generic drugs tend to cost less than their brand-name versions.

Your cost depends on the type of insurance coverage you have. There will also be a cost for the administration of the medication by a healthcare professional in a hospital setting.

Talk with your doctor about which drug is right for you. They may prefer to prescribe a certain medication for your condition.

For a comparison of your costs for each of these medications, talk with your insurance 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 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 medication work.

This competition may help keep the 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 dexmedetomidine

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

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 dexmedetomidine compare with Precedex?
• Does Medicare cover dexmedetomidine?
• Does my treatment with dexmedetomidine cost the same at any hospital?

Resources

• Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/f21d674a-7f5c-4143-82ae-83c43c503084/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Igalmi (dexmedetomidine). (2022). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/215390s000lbl.pdf
• Precedex (dexmedetomidine) injection. (2022). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/021038s028lbl.pdf

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.