Zovirax, Sitavig
Acyclovir
Acyclovir is a generic medication prescribed for certain viral infections. The brand-name versions of this drug are Zovirax and Sitavig. The cost of acyclovir with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
Acyclovir is a generic medication prescribed for certain viral infections. The brand-name versions of this drug are Zovirax and Sitavig. The cost of acyclovir with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
- Generic
- • Tablet
- • 400mg
- • 60 Tablets
Dosage settings
Set your dosage
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Intro
Introduction
Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Scheffel, PharmD
Written by Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS
Updated on August 10, 2023
Acyclovir is a generic medication prescribed for certain viral infections. The brand-name versions of this drug are Zovirax and Sitavig. The cost of acyclovir with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
Acyclovir comes in these forms:
- liquid solution for injection given by a healthcare professional as an intravenous (IV) infusion
- oral tablet, oral capsule, and oral liquid suspension that you take by mouth
- topical cream and topical ointment that you apply to your skin
Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved acyclovir to treat viral infections caused by the herpes simplex and varicella-zoster viruses in adults and certain children. These include:
- chickenpox
- cold sores
- encephalitis
- genital herpes (initial outbreak and to prevent it from coming back)
- herpes zoster (shingles)
Read on to learn about acyclovir and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about acyclovir, including its uses, refer to this overview article.
Price
Price of acyclovir
Like other medications, the cost of acyclovir can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:
- your insurance plan (if you have coverage)
- the pharmacy you use
- the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of acyclovir injection (given as an intravenous (IV) infusion)
To find out how much acyclovir 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 following section.
Coupons
Coupons for acyclovir
Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of acyclovir. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
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
Insurance and other considerations for acyclovir
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 acyclovir. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for acyclovir. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin treatment without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
- Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, in some cases, the price of acyclovir may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because acyclovir injection doses are given by a doctor or another healthcare professional. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan and whether you receive the doses at your doctor’s clinic or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
- A 3-month supply. If you’re taking oral dosage forms of acyclovir 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.
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
Generics vs. brand names
Acyclovir is a generic medication. Its brand-name versions are shown in the following table:
Form | Generic available | Brand available | Brand name |
liquid solution for injection* | ✓ | ||
oral tablet | ✓ | ||
oral capsule | ✓ | ||
oral liquid suspension | ✓ | ||
oral buccal tablet† | ✓ | Sitavig | |
topical cream‡ | ✓ | ✓ | Zovirax |
topical ointment | ✓ | ✓ | Zovirax |
* This form is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional.
† Buccal tablets are placed on the upper gum to dissolve.
‡ Topical medications are applied to the skin.
A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that 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 versions.
If your doctor has prescribed a topical form of acyclovir, but you’re interested in using Zovirax, let them know. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers only one version of the drug.
To learn how the cost of acyclovir compares with its brand-name version, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company.
FAQ
Common questions about acyclovir and cost
Here are some common questions about acyclovir and their answers.
Does acyclovir 800-mg oral tablet cost more than acyclovir 400-mg oral tablet?
Yes, it’s possible. The cost of the acyclovir 800-milligram (mg) oral tablet compared to the 400-mg oral tablet depends on several factors. These include whether you have insurance coverage, which pharmacy you use, your dosage, and your treatment plan.
But if you have insurance with a set copay for generic medications, the strength your doctor prescribes for acyclovir oral tablet shouldn’t affect your cost.
If you have questions about acyclovir’s cost, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one). And to learn more about the drug’s dosages, see this article.
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 drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.)
This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs 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.
What to ask
What to ask about acyclovir
This article provides cost information related to acyclovir. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for acyclovir.
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:
Resources
Resources
- Acyclovir- acyclovir tablet. (2023). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/b24201ea-aeae-4de1-b01b-eee89068e786/spl-doc
- Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
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.
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