Trifluridine

Introduction

Written by Kirstyn Hill, PharmD, MPH
Medically reviewed by Paul Hetrick, PharmD
Updated on January 18, 2024

Trifluridine (trye FLURE i deen) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for certain types of eye infections. The brand-name version of this drug is Viroptic. The cost of trifluridine 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 trifluridine to treat:

• keratoconjunctivitis
• eye herpes

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

Cost of trifluridine

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

Coupons for trifluridine

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

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

Trifluridine is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Viroptic.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. An active ingredient is what makes medication work. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re believed to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

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

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

Common questions about trifluridine and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about trifluridine.  

How does the cost of trifluridine compare with the cost of Zirgan?

Ganciclovir (brand name Zirgan) is a prescription drug also used to treat certain types of eye infections. The cost of both trifluridine and Zirgan depends on various factors, including insurance coverage, the pharmacy you use, and whether you get a 90-day supply of the drug.

To find out how much trifluridine may cost compared to Zirgan, contact your insurance provider or 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 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 medication work.

This competition may help keep the 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 trifluridine

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

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:

• What are my options if I can’t afford trifluridine?
• Are there lower cost drugs that could treat my eye condition?
• Will my dosage of trifluridine affect the cost?

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
• Trifluridine- trifluridine solution. (2021). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/abc1d07f-91ee-4421-bc9b-457d0ed41f4c/spl-doc
• Viroptic ophthalmic solution, 1% sterile (trifluridine ophthalmic solution). (2018). https://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=700

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.