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Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Beth Johnston, PharmD, BCPS
Updated on February 15, 2024

Sumaxin is a branded-generic medication* that’s prescribed for acne, rosacea, and seborrheic dermatitis (a common cause of dandruff). It isn’t available in a brand-name version. The cost of Sumaxin with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon. 

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

* Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredient. But branded-generic drugs are given a trade name by the drugmaker. 

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Cost of Sumaxin

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the form of the drug you’re using

To find out how much Sumaxin 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 Sumaxin” section.

Coupons for Sumaxin

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

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with 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 Sumaxin

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 Sumaxin. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Sumaxin. 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 Sumaxin 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.
• 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. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Brand names vs. generics

Sumaxin is a branded-generic medication. It contains the active ingredients sodium sulfacetamide and sulfur. Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredient. But branded-generic drugs are given a trade name by the drugmaker. Sumaxin isn’t available as a brand-name medication.

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 versions.

To learn more, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Common questions about Sumaxin and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Sumaxin.  

How does the cost of Sumaxin compare with the cost of similar drugs, such as Avar?

It depends. There are several other products that contain the same active ingredients as Sumaxin. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) Other products, such as Avar, come in different forms and contain different strengths of these active ingredients compared with Sumaxin. So the cost of these medications may be different.

With prescription drugs, insurance coverage is the main factor in the price you’ll pay for a drug. If you have insurance, your plan may cover one drug and not another. Or it may cover multiple similar drugs, but the copay for each could be different.

You can learn more about how the cost of Sumaxin and similar drugs will compare by contacting your insurance provider. Or you can ask someone at your pharmacy.

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, which have already been tested. 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 Sumaxin

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

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 lower cost drugs that could treat my condition?
• What is my copay for Sumaxin?
• What are my options 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   
• Sumaxin cleansing pads- sulfacetamide sodium and sulfur cloth. (2017.) https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/5d9ddc1a-fbae-4595-86ce-3bbca7d03482/spl-doc
• Sumaxin (sodium sulfacetamide 8% & sulfur 4%). (2013). https://www.medimetriks.com/sites/default/files/pi-files/Sumaxin_Wash_TS_PI_website_0.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.