Allopurinol and cost

Allopurinol cost

As with all medications, the cost of allopurinol can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.

To find out what the cost of allopurinol will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or look below in the next section to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.

Allopurinol coupons and savings

To save money on your allopurinol prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.

Common questions about cost and allopurinol  

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and allopurinol.

What’s the cost of allopurinol without insurance?

The price you’ll pay for allopurinol if you don’t have insurance can vary based on several factors. But typically, the cost is higher without insurance.

Other factors could affect what you pay for this drug. These include:

• the quantity you’re prescribed (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)
• whether you apply and qualify for any available savings programs
• your dosage and treatment plan
• the pharmacy you use

To learn the exact cost you’d pay for this medication without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You may also want to contact several pharmacies to compare their prices for allopurinol.

Check out Optum Perks for estimates of allopurinol’s price when using coupons from the site. Note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance benefits or copays. (Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.)

How does the price of allopurinol 300 mg compare with that of the drug’s other strengths?

Allopurinol oral tablet comes in strengths of 100 milligrams (mg), 200 mg, and 300 mg. The 300-mg tablet may cost more because it has more of the active ingredient (allopurinol) than lower strength tablets.

But the price you would pay depends on various factors. These may include:

• the length of your treatment
• whether there are payment assistance programs for your prescribed treatment
• whether you’re paying out of pocket or have insurance
• the pharmacy you use

To learn more about the cost of allopurinol tablets, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one). You can also compare allopurinol prices on Optum Perks when using coupons from the site.

Generic vs. brand-name drugs

Allopurinol is a generic drug, which means it’s an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. A generic drug is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Allopurinol is available as the brand-name drugs Zyloprim, Lopurin, and Aloprim. If your doctor has prescribed allopurinol and you’re interested in a brand-name drug instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer one or the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as it may cover only one or the other.

To find out how the cost of these brand-name drugs compares with the cost of allopurinol, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Ways to reduce long-term drug costs

If you take allopurinol long term, you may be able to lower its cost in the following ways.

Getting a 3-month supply

You may be able to get a 90-day supply of allopurinol. If approved by your insurance company, getting a 90-day supply of the drug could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost. If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Using a mail-order pharmacy

Allopurinol may be available through a mail-order pharmacy. Using this type of service may help lower the drug’s cost and allow you to receive your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug via mail order.

If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.

Financial and insurance assistance

If you need financial support to pay for allopurinol, consider looking into websites that offer cost resources and information. Two such organizations are:

• NeedyMeds
• prescription discount programs

These sites can provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services.

Insurance considerations

Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive an allopurinol prescription.

If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers allopurinol. This means the company and your doctor will discuss allopurinol in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered. If a drug requires prior authorization but you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether allopurinol requires prior authorization.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.