Diastat (diazepam) and Diastat AcuDial are brand-name drugs prescribed for certain types of seizures in adults and some children. The cost of the drug with and without insurance can depend on several factors.
Diastat and Diastat AcuDial are both available as a rectal gel inside a prefilled syringe. For the rest of this article, “Diastat” refers to both versions of the drug, except where noted.
Diastat is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain seizure patterns in adults and children ages 2 years and older with refractory epilepsy.
Read on to learn about Diastat and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions. If you’d like other information about Diastat, refer to this article.
As with all medications, the cost of Diastat can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:
- your treatment plan
- whether you use Diastat or Diastat AcuDial
- your insurance coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- whether Diastat has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)
To find out what the cost of Diastat 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.
To save money on your Diastat prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
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Save on Diastat Acudial without insurance.
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Simply show the Optum Perks coupon at your preferred pharmacy or order online and instantly save up to 80% without using insurance. The coupon doesn’t expire, so be sure to save it for refills.
Retail price refers to the manufacturer’s published list price and is up to date as of 3/2023. Retail and discounted prices are U.S.-only and can vary based on region and pharmacy. We cannot guarantee that the discounted price listed here will exactly match the price at your pharmacy. Please contact your pharmacy for the exact price.
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The active ingredient of Diastat is diazepam, and it’s available as a generic drug under the name diazepam. 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.
If your doctor has prescribed Diastat and you’re interested in taking diazepam instead, talk with your doctor. They may have a preference for one version 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 this generic drug compares with the cost of Diastat, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
WHY ARE COSTS DIFFERENT FOR BRAND-NAME DRUGS VS. GENERIC DRUGS?Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the research needed to test their safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell it for up to 20 years. When the brand-name drug’s patent expires, multiple manufacturers can create generic versions. This marketplace competition may lead to lower costs for generics. Also, because generics contain the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t require the same costly testing.
If you take Diastat 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 Diastat. 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
Diastat 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.
If you need financial support to pay for Diastat, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example, some websites provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:
To learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance, check out this article.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Diastat.
What is the cost of Diastat without insurance?
The price you’ll pay for Diastat if you don’t have insurance can vary based on several factors. But typically, the cost is higher without insurance.
There are other factors that could affect what you pay for this drug. These include:
- the quantity you’re prescribed (such as a 90-day or 30-day supply)
- whether you use Diastat or Diastat AcuDial
- whether you apply and qualify for any available savings programs
- your dosage
- 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 Diastat.
Check out Optum Perks for estimates of Diastat’s price when using coupons from the site. (Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.) Note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance benefits or copays.
Is Diastat covered by Medicare?
It may be. You can call your Medicare plan provider to learn whether your particular plan covers the cost of this drug. There are many types of Medicare plans, so your coverage and what you pay for prescriptions will be based on your particular plan’s benefits.
You may also need to obtain prior authorization before your plan will cover the cost of this medication.
Your doctor may have information about your cost for Diastat if you have Medicare.
Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive Diastat.
If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Diastat. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Diastat in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether to cover the medication.
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 Diastat requires prior authorization.
Now that you’ve learned about cost and Diastat, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Diastat. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for Diastat.
Here are some other resources you may find helpful:
- Medicare drug coverage: To learn about Medicare coverage for drugs, see these articles about Medicare prescription drug plans, drug coupons and Medicare, and the Medicare drug list.
- More details: For details about other aspects of Diastat, refer to this article.
- Dosage: Learn about Diastat and dosage by viewing this article.
- Side effects: For details about Diastat’s side effects, see this article. You can also look at the Diastat prescribing information.
- Information about seizures: For more information about your condition, see our epilepsy and seizures hub.
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.