Rifampin

Introduction

Medically reviewed by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Updated on November 13, 2023

Rifampin is a generic medication that’s prescribed for certain bacterial infections. The brand-name versions of this drug are Rimactane and Rifadin. The cost of rifampin with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Rifampin comes in these forms: oral capsule and injection.

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

• treat tuberculosis, a serious infection that most often affects the lungs
• prevent the transmission of infection called meningococcal meningitis that affects the brain and spinal cord

Read on to learn about rifampin and its cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about rifampin, including its uses, refer to this overview article.

Cost of rifampin

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost to receive rifampin injections if you’re prescribed this form

To find out how much rifampin costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, 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 following section.

Coupons for rifampin

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of rifampin. 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 rifampin

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 rifampin. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for rifampin. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking it 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 rifampin for injection may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because rifampin doses may be given by a doctor or another healthcare professional. 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.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re taking rifampin oral capsules long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.

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

Rifampin is a generic medication. The brand-name version of the oral capsule form of this drug is Rimactane. The brand-name version of the injection is Rifadin.

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

If your doctor has prescribed rifampin but you’re interested in taking Rifadin or Rimactane, let them know. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers only one version of the drug.

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

Common questions about rifampin and cost

Here are some common questions about rifampin and their answers.

How does the cost of rifampin compare with the cost of other similar drugs, such as pyrazinamide or ethambutol?

There are many factors that go into the price you’ll pay for a medication. But insurance coverage is the main one. Insurance plans differ in how they cover drugs and the copays they require. If you have insurance, your plan will determine how much you’ll pay for rifampin versus pyrazinamide or ethambutol.

You can find out how much a prescription for any of these three drugs is likely to cost by contacting your insurance provider. Or you can ask someone at your pharmacy. Ask them to give you the cost for all three of these drugs.

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 without anyone else making their drug. 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 a 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, which have already been tested. So generic medications don’t require the same kind of costly testing as brand-name medications.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor.

What to ask about rifampin

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

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:

• Are there other low cost drugs that could help treat my condition?
• How can I save money on my rifampin prescription?
• What are my options if I am unable to afford my medication?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Rifampin capsules USP. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/6d1c87df-b319-4c63-9f19-6584d7c4ff8e/spl-doc
• Rifadin capsules USP and Rifadin IV for injection USP. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/87839f65-cb33-412e-929e-564136501a84/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.