Selenium Sulfide, Selenium Sulfide Shampoo

Introduction

Written by Jen Seabright, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Molly Becze, PharmD, BCPS
Updated on December 4, 2023

Selenium sulfide (se LEE nee um SUL fide) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for skin conditions including dandruff in adults and some children. Selenium sulfide is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of selenium sulfide with or without insurance can depend on several factors.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved selenium sulfide to treat tinea versicolor, dandruff, and seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp.

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

Cost of selenium sulfide

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use

To find out how much selenium sulfide 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 “Coupons for selenium sulfide” section.

Coupons for selenium sulfide

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

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 selenium sulfide. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for selenium sulfide. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin using it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re using selenium sulfide 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

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

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.) Selenium sulfide is based on the brand-name versions Exsel and Selsun, which are 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 versions.

Common questions about selenium sulfide and cost

Here are some common questions about selenium sulfide and their answers.

Is selenium sulfide covered by Medicare?

Possibly. There are several types of Medicare plans, and coverage may vary. To find out if selenium sulfide is covered, talk with your insurance provider. You may also talk with your doctor or pharmacist about coverage for this medication.

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 a medication work.)

This competition may help keep 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 selenium sulfide

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

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:

• Will the form of selenium sulfide prescribed by my doctor affect its cost?
• Are there any lower-cost medications available to treat my condition?
• What options do I have if I can’t 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 
• Selenium sulfide 2.25% shampoo with urea and zinc pyrithione. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/c1eae793-317c-438c-b538-ab922e8048f0/spl-doc
• Selenium sulfide topical suspension USP, 2.5% (lotion). (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/ff23871d-8cc1-467b-b54e-73122d65e245/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.