Fentanyl Citrate Transmucosal
Generic Fentanyl Citrate, Fentora, Actiq
Fentanyl is a generic medication that’s prescribed for pain or anesthesia. The brand-name versions of this drug are Actiq, Fentora, and Sublimaze. The cost of fentanyl with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
Fentanyl is a generic medication that’s prescribed for pain or anesthesia. The brand-name versions of this drug are Actiq, Fentora, and Sublimaze. The cost of fentanyl with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
- Generic
- • Lozenge on a Handle
- • 200mcg
- • 30 Lozenges
Dosage settings
Set your dosage
Make sure your dosage values are correct! In order for Optum Perks to provide the most accurate discount pricing for your prescription, take a moment to verify your dosage above.
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Intro
Introduction
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Written by Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS
Updated on August 30, 2023
Fentanyl is a generic medication that’s prescribed for pain or anesthesia. The brand-name versions of this drug are Actiq, Fentora, and Sublimaze. The cost of fentanyl with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
Fentanyl comes in these forms:
- transdermal patch you apply to your skin
- lozenge
- liquid solution for injection by a healthcare professional
Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved fentanyl:
- to treat severe, chronic (long-term) pain in opioid-tolerant people (those who have taken opioid medications before)
- for breakthrough cancer pain in opioid-tolerant people
- for anesthesia before surgery
Read on to learn about fentanyl and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about fentanyl, including its uses, refer to this overview article.
Cost
Cost of fentanyl
As with other medications, the cost of fentanyl 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 fentanyl
To find out how much fentanyl 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 fentanyl
Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of fentanyl. 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
Insurance and other considerations for fentanyl
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 fentanyl. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for fentanyl. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin the medication without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
- Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of fentanyl injection may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because fentanyl 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 fentanyl 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
Fentanyl is a generic medication. The brand-name versions of this drug are Actiq, Fentora, and Sublimaze.
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 fentanyl but you’re interested in taking a brand-name version, 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 fentanyl compares with its brand-name versions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company.
FAQ
Common questions about fentanyl and cost
Here are some common questions about fentanyl and their answers.
Is fentanyl covered by Medicare?
Possibly. There are several different types of Medicare plans with various benefits. The cost of fentanyl with Medicare coverage may depend on the dosage form you’re prescribed, your treatment plan, and whether you have to visit a healthcare professional to receive fentanyl injections.
To find out cost and coverage information about fentanyl with Medicare, contact your plan provider or your 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 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 fentanyl
This article provides cost information related to fentanyl. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for fentanyl.
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:
- Does my dosage form of fentanyl affect the cost of the medication?
- Are there other medications available if I can’t afford fentanyl?
- Would brand-name fentanyl patches cost more than the generic?
Resources
Resources
- Fentanyl citrate injection, solution. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/a13ae145-5c5e-422b-d0a5-6cf34c1b8262/spl-doc
- Fentanyl citrate lozenge. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/552ba162-76ed-4bc9-8c2c-fac7a1804da0/spl-doc
- Fentanyl patch, extended release. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/529836fc-527c-45d8-a318-ab5513c053fe/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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