Topiramate and cost

As with all medications, the cost of topiramate 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 topiramate 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 topiramate. This means the company and your doctor will discuss topiramate 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 topiramate requires prior authorization.

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

If I take topiramate with phentermine, is there a cost difference versus taking topiramate alone?

Yes, there’s likely a cost difference between topiramate/phentermine and topiramate alone. Topiramate/phentermine is the active drug of the brand-name medication Qsymia.* Topiramate alone is available as a generic drug.

Generic drugs typically cost less than brand-name drugs. So taking Qsymia may cost more than taking topiramate. (Currently, Qsymia isn’t available in a generic version.) However, some brand-name forms of topiramate, such as Topamax,† may be similar in price or more expensive than Qsymia.

The cost of either drug will also depend on your insurance plan and the form of topiramate your doctor prescribes. Your pharmacist can help determine the cost of Qsymia versus topiramate. You may also need to talk with your insurance provider and your doctor.

* Qsymia is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for long-term weight management in certain people with obesity. For additional details, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
† Topamax is sometimes prescribed off-label for weight management. Off-label drug use is when an FDA-approved drug is prescribed for a purpose other than what it’s approved for. For more information, talk with your doctor.

Does topiramate 100 mg cost more than topiramate 25 mg?

The 100-milligram (mg) strength of topiramate may cost more than the 25-mg strength. However, they could also cost the same or similar. This is because the cost of topiramate can depend on several factors. These include the form of the drug your doctor prescribes, whether you have insurance, and the pharmacy you use.

Your pharmacist can help determine the cost of different strengths of topiramate.

Topiramate 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.

Topiramate is available as the brand-name drugs Eprontia, Qudexy XR, Topamax, and Trokendi XR. If your doctor has prescribed topiramate and you’re interested in taking a brand-name drug 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 brand-name drug compares with the cost of topiramate, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you take topiramate 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 topiramate. 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

Topiramate 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 topiramate, consider looking into websites that offer cost resources and information. Two such organizations are:

• Medicine Assistance Tool
• NeedyMeds

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 topiramate, you may still have some questions. It may be helpful to talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to topiramate. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for topiramate.

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 topiramate, refer to this article.
• Information about your condition. For more information about your condition, see our hubs on epilepsy and seizures and headache and migraine.

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.