Thermazene, Silver Sulfadiazine, Ssd

Introduction

Written by Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Melissa Badowski, PharmD, MPH, FCCP
Updated on January 16, 2024

Thermazene is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed for treating burn wounds. It’s available in a generic version called SSD (silver sulfadiazine). The cost of Thermazene 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 Thermazene for prevention and treatment of wounds caused by second and third-degree burns.

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

Cost of Thermazene

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of Thermazene

To find out how much Thermazene 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 Thermazene” section.

Coupons for Thermazene

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

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 Thermazene. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Thermazene. 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.
• Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of Thermazene may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because it is possible that a doctor or another healthcare professional may apply Thermazene. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan and whether you receive the treatment 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 using Thermazene 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 pretax 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

Thermazene is a brand-name medication. It’s available as a generic version called SSD (silver sulfadiazine).

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.

If your doctor has prescribed Thermazene but you’re interested in taking SSD (silver sulfadiazine), let them know. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check which forms your insurance plan covers, as it may not cover all forms.

To learn how the cost of Thermazene compares with its generic version, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about Thermazene and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Thermazene.  

Is Thermazene covered by Medicare?

Possibly. Your Medicare plan’s coverage of Thermazene will depend on your specific plan details. It may also depend if you have to go to your doctor’s office to receive the treatment.

To learn more about your Medicare plan covering Thermazene, contact your plan administrator.

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 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 Thermazene

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

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?
• If I get a 90-day supply of Thermazene, will it lower the cost?
• What are my options if I cannot 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   
• Thermazene – silver sulfadiazine cream. (2015). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/b63d13c5-90e0-4de8-a075-795bfe8b91a1/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.