Vasopressin, Vasopressin +rfid

Introduction

Written by Ashley Wong, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Updated on January 19, 2024

Vasopressin (vay soe PRES in) is a generic medication that’s prescribed to raise blood pressure in adults with life threatening low blood pressure despite other treatments. The brand-name version of the drug is Vasostrict. Vasopressin is injected into your vein by a doctor or under the direct supervision of a doctor in a hospital.

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

Cost of vasopressin

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the cost to receive doses of vasopressin in a hospital from a healthcare professional

The cost of vasopressin is typically billed through your medical insurance. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of vasopressin in a hospital. The cost of your doses will depend on your medical insurance coverage.

If you have questions about this, ask your doctor or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

Coupons for vasopressin

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

But coupons aren’t available for medications like vasopressin that are only given by a healthcare professional.

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 vasopressin

The cost of vasopressin is typically billed through your medical insurance rather than a health benefits policy. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of vasopressin in a hospital. The cost of your doses will depend on your medical insurance coverage.

If you have questions about this, ask your doctor or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

Generics vs. brand-names

Vasopressin is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Vasostrict.

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.

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

Common questions about vasopressin and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about vasopressin.  

How does the cost of vasopressin compare with the cost of desmopressin?

The cost of a prescription drug, such as vasopressin or desmopressin, depends on several factors. This includes the form of the drug you’re prescribed, the use of the drug, and your insurance coverage. Each insurance plan varies in the drugs they cover and how they cover them.

Vasopressin and desmopressin come in different forms and are used for different purposes. Vasopressin is an injection that’s given by a doctor or another healthcare professional. It’s prescribed to raise blood pressure in adults with life threatening low blood pressure when other treatments haven’t worked.

Desmopressin is available as an oral tablet, sublingual (held under your tongue) tablet, nasal spray, and injection. It’s prescribed for various conditions, including central diabetes insipidus, bedwetting, and bleeding disorders.

If you have questions about how the cost of vasopressin compares to desmopressin, talk with your insurance provider or doctor.

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 vasopressin

This article provides cost information related to vasopressin. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription medications.

If you have more questions about paying for vasopressin, ask your insurance company. You can also contact the billing department of the hospital.

Resources

• Desmopressin acetate — desmopressin acetate injection, solution. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/9725ba8e-ac0f-4655-bb98-9ea926142815/spl-doc
• Desmopressin acetate — desmopressin acetate tablet. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/c04357fd-478a-4909-b098-ae6710be071c/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Vasopressin — vasopressin injection. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/85e3dc1e-98ae-4c4c-8af9-237375475e08/spl-doc
• Vasostrict (vasopressin injection) for intravenous use; Vasostrict (vasopressin in dextrose injection) for intravenous use. (2023). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/204485Orig1s030lbl.pdf

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.