Meperidine
Generic Demerol
Meperidine (me PER i deen) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for severe pain. The brand-name version of this drug is Demerol. The cost of meperidine with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
Meperidine (me PER i deen) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for severe pain. The brand-name version of this drug is Demerol. The cost of meperidine with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
- Generic
- • Solution
- • 25 x 1ml of 100mg/ml
- • 1 Package
Dosage settings
Set your dosage
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Intro
Introduction
Written by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Medically reviewed by Molly Becze, PharmD, BCPS
Updated on November 26, 2023
Meperidine (me PER i deen) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for severe pain. The brand-name version of this drug is Demerol. The cost of meperidine 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 meperidine to:
- treat severe pain that doesn’t respond to other treatments
- help prevent or treat pain due to surgery or labor and delivery
Read on to learn about meperidine and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about meperidine, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Cost
Cost of Meperidine
Like other medications, the cost of meperidine 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 meperidine by injection
To find out how much meperidine 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 meperidine” section.
Coupons
Coupons for meperidine
Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of meperidine. 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 meperidine
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 meperidine. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for meperidine. 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. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of meperidine injection may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because meperidine 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.
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
Meperidine is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Demerol.
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 version.
If your doctor has prescribed meperidine but you’re interested in taking Demerol, 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 meperidine compares with its brand-name version, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company.
FAQ
Common questions about meperidine and cost
Here are some common questions about meperidine and their answers.
Is meperidine covered by Medicare?
It depends on your Medicare plan and the form of meperidine prescribed.
“Original” Medicare, which is Medicare Part A and B, doesn’t include coverage for outpatient prescription drugs. Therefore, meperidine oral tablet and oral solution aren’t covered under original Medicare. But it may cover meperidine injection.
To have Medicare coverage for meperidine oral tablet or solution, you’ll need to purchase prescription drug coverage. You can do this by purchasing a Medicare plan, which includes outpatient drug coverage, such as a Medicare Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan.
To learn more about whether your Medicare plan covers meperidine, talk with your plan representative, your pharmacist, 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 or pharmacist.
What to ask
What to ask about meperidine
This article provides cost information related to meperidine. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find a link to coupons for meperidine.
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 meperidine have similar costs as other medications for pain?
- If I am unable to afford my prescription, what are my options?
- Does the form of meperidine affect the cost?
Resources
Resources
- Demerol (meperidine hydrochloride injection), for subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous use, intramuscular, and intravenous use, CII. (2022). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/021171Orig1s051lbl.pdf
- Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
- Meperidine hydrochloride injection. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/e0e998da-f056-4fce-be8e-ed60cf3b461b/spl-doc
- Meperidine hydrochloride tablet, meperidine hydrochloride oral solution. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/15bc51a8-1e24-4d33-9a2f-05a41c29acf0/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.
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