Oralone Dental Paste, Triamcinolone Dental Paste, Kourzeq, Triamcinolone (paste)

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on March 1, 2024

Kourzeq is a branded-generic* medication that’s prescribed for mouth sores due to injury. Kourzeq isn‘t available in a brand-name version. The cost of Kourzeq, with or without insurance, can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

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

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* Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredient. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) But branded-generic drugs, such as Kourzeq, are generic medications given a trade name by the drugmaker.

Cost of Kourzeq

Like other medications, the cost of Kourzeq can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the amount prescribed

To find out how much Kourzeq 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 Kourzeq” section.

Coupons for Kourzeq

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

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 Kourzeq. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Kourzeq. 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.
• A 3-month supply: If you’re using Kourzeq 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

Kourzeq is a branded-generic medication. It’s not available in a brand-name version.

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.) Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredient. But branded-generic drugs, such as Kourzeq, are generic medications given a trade name by the drugmaker. Kourzeq is based on the brand-name version Oralone, 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 versions.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about generic and brand-name medications.

Common questions about Kourzeq and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Kourzeq.  

Is Kourzeq covered by Medicare?

Possibly. Medicare prescription drug plans, such as Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage (Part C), may cover Kourzeq. Each plan has its own formulary (list of covered drugs). The plan’s formulary must include at least two drugs in common categories. 

If plans cover a drug, the drug is ranked in a tier system. Usually, the higher the tier, the higher your copay will be. 

Talk with your Medicare Part D or Part C provider to find out whether Kourzeq is covered under your plan. If so, you can ask how much your copay will be.

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 without anyone else making their drug. 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, which have already been tested. 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 Kourzeq

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

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 prescription insurance cover Kourzeq?
• Are there lower cost drugs that could treat my condition?
• What are my options if I can’t afford my medications?

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   
• Kourzeq (triamcinolone acetonide dental paste USP, 0.1%). (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/aad48d1e-f8db-4020-92af-0b3258bbc0f2/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.