Tricitrates

Introduction

Written by Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Paul Hetrick, PharmD
Updated on February 9, 2024

Tricitrates is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed for treating acidic urine. Tricitrates isn’t available in a generic version. The cost of Tricitrates, with or without insurance, can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Specifically, Tricitrates is used for treating:

• acidic urine in people with kidney stones
• acidic urine with certain other kidney problems
• gout, when given with other medications

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

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved Tricitrates. This is because the drug hasn’t been found to be safe and effective. But Tricitrates still may be used by healthcare professionals for certain people and conditions. If you have questions about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Cost of Tricitrates

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

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

To find out how much Tricitrates 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 Tricitrates” section.

Coupons for Tricitrates

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

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 Tricitrates. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Tricitrates. 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 Tricitrates 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

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

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.

Common questions about Tricitrates and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Tricitrates.  

Is Tricitrates covered by Medicare?

Possibly. Whether Tricitrates is covered by Medicare will depend on your specific Medicare plan. To find out how much Tricitrates will cost with your plan, ask your Medicare plan provider.

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.

When a drugmaker obtains a patent for a brand-name drug, they can sell the medication for up to 20 years before other drugmakers are allowed to sell a similar product. After the patent expires, other companies can make and sell generic versions of the brand-name drug.

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.)

Since generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t require the same costly studies for FDA approval.

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 Tricitrates

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

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:

• If I’ll be taking Tricitrates long term, can I get a larger amount to lower my daily cost?
• What are my options if I can’t afford my medication?
• Are there lower cost medications that can treat my condition?

Resources

• Tricitrates- tricitrates solution. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/2a80ea6b-6334-4c33-a35e-a5cb2939fbcb/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.