Prednisolone is a generic drug that’s prescribed for many conditions, including certain allergic conditions. The cost of prednisolone with and without insurance can depend on several factors, such as your treatment plan and whether you have insurance.
Examples of the conditions the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved prednisolone to treat include:
- certain skin conditions, such as rashes
- certain eye conditions, such as uveitis
- some types of cancer, such as acute leukemia
- some lung conditions, such as asthma
For more information about the uses of prednisolone, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Drug details
Here are some details about prednisolone:
- Drug class: corticosteroid
- Drug forms: oral tablet, oral disintegrating tablet, oral syrup, oral solution, eye drops, intravenous (IV) injection,* intramuscular injection*
- Brand-name versions: Omnipred, Pred Mild, Orapred ODT, Pred Forte, Pediapred, Prelone
Read on to learn about prednisolone and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions.
* The injection forms of prednisolone are given only by healthcare professionals in a hospital or surgery center.
As with all medications, the cost of prednisolone can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.
For injection forms of prednisolone, what you pay will also depend on the cost to receive the injection from a healthcare professional.
To find out what the cost of prednisolone will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
To save money on your prednisolone prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
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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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Pricing source:Perks.optum.com
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and prednisolone.
Is prednisolone acetate available? If so, how much does this form of the drug cost?
Prednisolone acetate is available as certain brand-name drugs, and your pharmacist can help determine the cost.
Prednisolone acetate is available only as brand-name medications that come as eye drops. (These medications include Omnipred and Pred Forte.) Prednisolone acetate used to be available as a generic drug in injection form, but it has been discontinued.
Prednisolone acetate is the salt form of prednisolone. Salt forms are created to help a drug dissolve more easily so your body can absorb it better.
The brand-name versions of prednisolone acetate are likely to cost more than the generic version of the drug. However, the actual cost can vary based on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the location of your pharmacy.
If you’d like to learn more about prednisolone acetate and its cost, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does the cost of prednisolone vary based on the form or strength of the drug I take?
Yes, the cost of prednisolone may vary based on the form or strength of the medication.
Prednisolone comes as an oral tablet, orally disintegrating tablet, oral syrup, oral solution, injection, and eye drop. The cost difference among the forms will likely depend more on whether your doctor has prescribed a brand-name or generic version. Note that the form of prednisolone your doctor prescribes may depend on the condition you’re using the drug to treat.
The prednisolone eye drop form is available only in brand-name versions. The prednisolone oral tablet, solution, and syrup forms are available in brand-name and generic versions. The cost of generics is usually lower than the cost of brand-name medications.
The cost of prednisolone may also become higher as the drug strength increases. For example, the 15-milligram (mg) strength of prednisolone typically costs more than the 10-mg strength.
Prednisolone doesn’t come in certain strengths, such as 50 mg. However, prednisone, a related drug with a similar name, might. Prednisolone is the active form of prednisone. This means that prednisone is metabolized (broken down) in the body to become prednisolone.
The actual price you’ll pay for prednisolone will also depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use. You can talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about the cost of prednisolone for you.
How much does prednisolone cost without insurance?
Prednisolone without insurance will likely be more expensive than with insurance. The cost will also vary based on which pharmacy you use.
If you have questions about the cost of your prednisolone medication, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Check out Optum Perks* for estimates of prednisolone’s price when using coupons from the site. (Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance benefits or copays.)
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.
Prednisolone is a generic drug, which means it’s an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. The generic is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.
Prednisolone is available as the brand-name drugs Omnipred, Pred Mild, Orapred ODT, Pred Forte, Pediapred, and Prelone. To find out how the prices of these brand names compare with the cost of prednisolone, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If your doctor has prescribed prednisolone and you’re interested in using a brand-name version 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 only cover one or the other.
Below are some tips on reducing the long-term cost of prednisolone.
Getting a 3-month supply
You may be able to get a 90-day supply of prednisolone. 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 or insurance provider.
Using a mail-order pharmacy
Prednisolone 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 prednisolone, 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 prednisolone, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance on cost issues related to you and prednisolone. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for prednisolone.
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.
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.