Trulance

Introduction

Written by Julz Richterman, PharmD, MBA, BCGP
Medically reviewed by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Updated on July 11, 2024

Trulance is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed for certain types of constipation. Trulance isn’t available in a generic version. The cost of Trulance 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 Trulance for use in adults to treat:

• chronic idiopathic constipation, which refers to long-lasting constipation that doesn’t have a known cause
• irritable bowel syndrome with constipation

Read on to learn about Trulance and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Trulance, including its uses, refer to this overview article.

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Cost of Trulance

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

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

To find out how much Trulance 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 Trulance” section.

Coupons for Trulance

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of Trulance. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons can’t 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 Trulance

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

Trulance 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 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.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about generic and brand-name medications.

Why costs are 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.

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.

Common questions about Trulance and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Trulance.

Is Trulance covered by Medicare?

Possibly. Some Medicare Part D prescription drug plans cover Trulance, but others don’t. This varies based on your specific plan.

Some insurance plans require prior authorization before covering any of the costs of Trulance. In this case, your doctor will speak with your insurance provider about why Trulance is best for you.

Talk with your pharmacist or insurance provider to learn whether Trulance is covered under your plan.

What is the cost of Trulance compared to the cost of Linzess?

Trulance and Linzess are usually similar in price. But this depends on the pharmacy you use, the insurance you have, and the dosage you take.

Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider to learn how much Trulance and Linzess would cost you.

What does Trulance 3 mg cost with and without insurance?

The cost of Trulance 3 mg can be more expensive with and without insurance. This is because Trulance is only available as a brand-name medication.

If you don’t have insurance, prescription drug coupons may help lower your cost. See the section called “Coupons for Trulance” for more details.

If you do have insurance, Trulance may be listed on a higher tier on the drug formulary. A formulary is a list of drugs your insurance provider covers. Drugs listed on a higher tier usually cost more than drugs listed on a lower tier. This means your copay may be higher.

Your insurance provider may require prior authorization before it covers any of the cost. In this case, your doctor will speak with your insurance provider about why Trulance is best for you.

Talk with your pharmacist or insurance provider about how much Trulance will cost you.

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
• Trulance (plecanatide) tablets, for oral use. (2024). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/fe2895bf-71a6-493a-b0ca-e06b2dfefc82/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.