Tiopronin, Tiopronin DR

Introduction

Written by Ashley Wong, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on January 23, 2024

Tiopronin (tye oh PROE nin) is a generic medication that’s prescribed to prevent certain types of kidney stones. The brand-name versions of this drug are Thiola and Thiola EC. The cost of tiopronin with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

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

Cost of tiopronin

Like other medications, the cost of tiopronin 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 tiopronin 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 tiopronin” section.

Coupons for tiopronin

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

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 tiopronin. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for tiopronin. 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.
• A 3-month supply: If you’re taking tiopronin 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.

Generics vs. brand-names

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

* “Delayed release” means the drug is released into your body slowly over time.
† “Immediate release” means the drug is released into your body right away.

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.

If your doctor has prescribed tiopronin but you’re interested in taking Thiola or Thiola EC, let them know. They may have a reason to prescribe one medication over the other. Also, check which form(s) of the drug your insurance plan covers, as it may not cover all forms.

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

Common questions about tiopronin and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about tiopronin.  

Is tiopronin covered by Medicare?

Possibly. Medicare Part D covers many prescription drugs. However, each Medicare Part D plan covers different drugs.

To check whether your Medicare Part D covers tiopronin, talk with your Medicare 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 tiopronin

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

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 I have a copay for tiopronin?
• What are my options if I can’t afford tiopronin?
• Are there lower cost options you can prescribe for my condition?

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   
• Thiola (tiopronin) tablets, for oral use. (2019). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/019569s006lbl.pdf
• Thiola EC (tiopronin) delayed-release tablets, for oral use. (2021). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/211843s002lbl.pdf
• Tiopronin delayed-release tablets, for oral use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/ce5b1f97-5b3c-40b6-b1c4-1d36025be1b8/spl-doc
• Tiopronin tablets, for oral use. (2021). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/8dee6eff-0ec1-4fe7-8d27-18cdc6cf54b9/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.