Dutasteride is a generic oral capsule prescribed to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in adults. It’s available as the brand-name drug Avodart.The cost of dutasteride with and without insurance can depend on several factors.
Dutasteride belongs to a drug class called 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat symptoms of BPH in adults with an enlarged prostate gland.
Read on to learn about dutasteride and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions. If you’d like more information about dutasteride, refer to this article.
As with all medications, the cost of dutasteride 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 dutasteride will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Note: If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers dutasteride. This means the company and your doctor will discuss dutasteride 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 dutasteride requires prior authorization.
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Dutasteride is a generic drug, which means it’s an exact copy of the active drug 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.
Dutasteride is available as the brand-name drug Avodart. If your doctor has prescribed dutasteride and you’re interested in taking Avodart instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer 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 brand-name drug compares with the cost of dutasteride, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If you take dutasteride 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 dutasteride. 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
Dutasteride 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 dutasteride, consider looking into websites that offer cost resources and information. Two such organizations are:
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.
Now that you’ve learned about cost and dutasteride, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to dutasteride. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for dutasteride.
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.
- Save money. Explore this article for tips about how to save money on prescriptions.
- More details. For details about other aspects of dutasteride, refer to this article.
- Information about your condition. For more information about benign prostatic hyperplasia, see our list of prostate and prostate cancer articles. You can view our men’s health hub to learn about a range of health and wellness topics.
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.