Xywav

Introduction

Written by Julz Richterman, PharmD, MBA, BCGP
Medically reviewed by Philip Ngo, PharmD
Updated on July 12, 2024

Xywav is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed for certain disorders that cause too much sleepiness. Xywav is not available in a generic version. The cost of Xywav 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 Xywav for treating:

• hypersomnia (difficulty staying awake or being alert) for unknown reasons in adults
• cataplexy or excessive daytime sleepiness in adults and certain children with narcolepsy

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

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Cost of Xywav

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

Coupons for Xywav

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

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

Xywav 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.) Xywav contains the active ingredients calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybates.

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 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 Xywav and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Xywav.

What is the cost of Xywav compared to the cost of Xyrem?

Xywav and Xyrem usually cost around the same price. But the monthly cost of each depends on any insurance coverage you have, the pharmacy you use, and the dosage you take. Both are only available as brand-name drugs, so they can be expensive.

Xywav and Xyrem are made by the same drug manufacturer. But Xywav is a low sodium version of Xyrem. So if your doctor wants you to limit your salt intake, they may recommend Xywav over Xyrem.

For more information about which one is best for you, talk with your doctor. To find out more about your cost for Xywav and Xyrem, ask your pharmacist or insurance provider.

How much does Xywav cost with insurance?

The cost of Xywav depends on the specific insurance plan you have. And some insurance plans don’t cover Xywav. Or, some plans may require a prior authorization before covering any of the cost. If this is the case, your doctor will talk with your insurance provider about why Xywav is best for you.

Because Xywav is only available as a brand-name drug, your copay may be higher than usual for it compared with copays of generic drugs.

There are prescription drug coupons that can help lower your cost, such as the Optum Perks coupons found above on this page. But those coupons can’t be used with insurance.

Talk with your pharmacist or insurance company to learn about your options to lower your cost of Xywav.

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
• Xyrem (sodium oxybate) oral solution, CIII. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/926eb076-a4a8-45e4-91ef-411f0aa4f3ca/spl-doc
• Xywav (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybates) oral solution, CIII. (2023). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/212690s011lbl.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.