Triderm, Triamcinolone in Absorbase

Introduction

Written by Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on February 1, 2024

Triderm is a branded-generic medication that’s prescribed for skin conditions. Triderm is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of Triderm 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 Triderm to relieve itchy and inflamed skin conditions.

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

Cost of Triderm

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

Coupons for Triderm

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

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

Triderm is a branded-generic medication. It’s not available in a brand-name version. Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredient. But branded-generic drugs are given a proprietary name by the drugmaker. The active ingredient in Triderm is triamcinolone acetonide.

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.) Triderm is based on the brand-name version Kenalog, which is 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 version(s).

Common questions about Triderm and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Triderm.

How does the cost of Triderm compare with the cost of hydrocortisone?

The cost of Triderm compared with hydrocortisone can depend on a number of factors. These factors include whether you are purchasing over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription hydrocortisone, your insurance coverage (if you have any), and the pharmacy you use. If you have questions about how much Triderm will cost compared with hydrocortisone, talk with your pharmacist or insurance 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.

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. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

Triderm is a branded-generic medication. Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active drug(s). But branded-generic drugs are given a proprietary name by the drugmaker.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name, branded-generic, and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What to ask about Triderm

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

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:

• How does the cost of Triderm compare with the cost of hydrocortisone?
• Are there other low cost medications that can treat my condition?
• Will my daily cost of Triderm be lower if I get a larger amount?

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
• Triderm- triamcinolone acetonide cream USP. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/2c7fee2c-6f57-4de4-8803-98c0b31b07c3/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.