Xiidra

Introduction

Written by Julz Richterman, PharmD, MBA, BCGP
Medically reviewed by Amber R. Watson, PharmD
Updated on June 11, 2024

Xiidra (ZYE druh) is a brand-name eye drop that’s prescribed for dry eye disease (DED). Xiidra is not available in a generic version. The cost of Xiidra with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

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

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Cost of Xiidra

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

Coupons for Xiidra

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

Brand names vs. generics

Xiidra 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.

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

Why is Xiidra so expensive?

Xiidra is a brand-name medication. 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 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 Xiidra and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Xiidra.

How does the cost of Xiidra compare with the cost of Restasis?

The costs of Xiidra and Restasis depend on the insurance you have and the pharmacy you use. Xiidra is only available as a brand-name drug. So it may be more expensive. Restasis is available as a generic version called cyclosporine. This generic form of Restasis is usually less expensive than Xiidra.

Even though Xiidra and Restasis are used for the same purposes, they are not part of the same group of drugs. They work differently. So your doctor or insurance provider may prefer one over the other.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacy about which is best for you and what it will cost.

What is the cost of Xiidra without insurance?

The monthly cost of Xiidra without insurance can be high. This is because it’s only available as a brand-name medication. Brand-name drugs are usually more expensive than generic versions. The medication is also preservative-free. This means it’s less irritating to your eyes. But this can increase the cost because each dose needs to be packaged individually.

Prescription drug coupons can help lower your cost of Xiidra. See the “Coupons for Xiidra” section for more information.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about your options to lower your cost for Xiidra.

What is the cost of Xiidra with insurance?

The cost of Xiidra with insurance depends on your specific insurance policy. If your insurance provider covers Xiidra, your copay may be higher for Xiidra than for generic drugs used to treat your condition. This is because Xiidra is only available as a brand-name medication.

Also, your insurance provider may require prior authorization before covering any of the cost of Xiidra. If you begin Xiidra before the prior authorization is approved, then you may need to pay full price for the drug.

Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider for specific details about how much your Xiidra prescription will cost.

Insurance and other considerations for Xiidra

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

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
• Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution), for topical ophthalmic use. (2023). https://pi.bausch.com/globalassets/pdf/packageinserts/pharma/xiidra-prescribing-information.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.