Zioptan

Introduction

Written by Rachel Maynard, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Michael Rio, PharmD
Updated on February 1, 2024

Tafluprost (TA floo prost) is a generic medication that’s prescribed to lower pressure in the eye in people with open-angle glaucoma or high pressure in the eye. The brand-name version of this drug is Zioptan. The cost of tafluprost, with or without insurance, can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

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

Cost of tafluprost

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

Coupons for tafluprost

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

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 tafluprost. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for tafluprost. 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.
• Insurance coverage: The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan. If you have questions, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
• A 3-month supply: If you’re using tafluprost 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

Tafluprost is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Zioptan.

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.

If your doctor has prescribed tafluprost but you’re interested in Zioptan, 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 tafluprost compares with its brand-name version, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company.

Common questions about tafluprost and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about tafluprost.

How does the cost of tafluprost compare with the cost of Lumigan?

It depends. The cost of tafluprost or Lumigan may vary based on several factors, such as:

• whether you’re prescribed a brand-name or generic version
• the drug’s strength
• the supply you’re prescribed, such as 30 days or 90 days
• whether you have insurance, and what your insurance plan covers
• the pharmacy you use

Tafluprost and Lumigan are both eye drops that are in a group of drugs known as prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are usually the first type of drug used to treat open-angle glaucoma.

Tafluprost is a generic drug. Lumigan is a brand-name drug. It contains the active ingredient, bimatoprost. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) Lumigan is also available as a generic drug. The brand-name version, Lumigan, is available as a 0.01% strength eye drop. Its generic version, bimatoprost, is available as a 0.03% eye drop. Your doctor will prescribe the type and strength of eye drop that’s right for your condition. Brand-name drugs usually cost more than generic drugs.

Talk with your insurance provider, pharmacist, or doctor if you have questions about the cost of your medication. There may be reasons why a doctor prescribes tafluprost instead of Lumigan. Or there might be other medications that can be used for your condition that cost less.

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 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. 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.)

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.

What to ask about tafluprost

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

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:

• Are there other lower cost drugs that could be used to treat my condition?
• Can I use an over-the-counter (OTC) product instead of this prescription to reduce my costs?
• What options are available if I can’t afford tafluprost?

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
• Tafluprost ophthalmic solution. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/fcaab8b3-3791-49ba-909e-a09651a30b33/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.