Minoxidil
Minoxidil [mi NOKS i dil] is a generic medication that’s prescribed for high blood pressure. Minoxidil is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of minoxidil with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
Minoxidil [mi NOKS i dil] is a generic medication that’s prescribed for high blood pressure. Minoxidil is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of minoxidil with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.
- Generic
- • Tablet
- • 2.5mg
- • 60 Tablets
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
Written by Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS
Medically reviewed by Molly Becze, PharmD, BCPS
Updated on December 1, 2023
Minoxidil [mi NOKS i dil] is a generic medication that’s prescribed for high blood pressure. Minoxidil is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of minoxidil 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 minoxidil to treat high blood pressure. It’s only used if your high blood pressure isn’t managed with the maximum doses of a diuretic (water pill), plus two other high blood pressure medications. Minoxidil is not used to treat mild high blood pressure.
Read on to learn about minoxidil and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about minoxidil, including its uses, refer to this overview article or talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Cost
Cost of minoxidil
Like other medications, the cost of minoxidil can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:
- your insurance plan, if you have coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- your treatment plan
To find out how much minoxidil 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 minoxidil” section.
Coupons
Coupons for minoxidil
Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of minoxidil. 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 minoxidil
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 minoxidil. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for minoxidil. 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 minoxidil 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
Minoxidil is a generic medication. It’s not available in a brand-name version.
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.) Minoxidil is based on the brand-name version Loniten, which is no longer available.
Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.
FAQ
Common questions about minoxidil and cost
Here are some common questions about minoxidil and their answers.
Do the over-the-counter forms of minoxidil cost less than the prescription form of the drug?
Possibly. Over-the-counter (OTC) versions of topical minoxidil (Rogaine) are used for hair regrowth for certain types of hair loss. It’s not used to treat high blood pressure. Minoxidil oral tablet is a prescription drug that’s used to treat high blood pressure in certain cases.
The cost of prescription minoxidil tablet compared to OTC topical versions of minoxidil for hair regrowth depends on various factors. For example, the cost of prescription minoxidil oral tablet may be less expensive if you have insurance coverage compared to OTC topical minoxidil, which is not typically covered by insurance.
Other factors that can affect the cost of each form include:
- your treatment plan
- the days’ supply of the medication (30-day versus 90-day)
- the pharmacy you choose
To learn more about how the costs for different versions of minoxidil compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
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 minoxidil
This article provides cost information related to minoxidil. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for minoxidil.
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
- Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
- Minoxidil- minoxidil tablet. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/02d7399f-94cc-f718-f214-587301edd138/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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