Trulance (plecanatide) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat certain forms of constipation in adults.
Specifically, Trulance is prescribed to treat:
- irritable bowel syndrome with constipation
- chronic idiopathic constipation
For more information about Trulance’s uses, refer to this article.
Drug details
Here are some details about Trulance:
- Drug form: 3-milligram (mg) oral tablet
- Generic: not currently available
Read on to learn about Trulance 3-mg tablets and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions.
As with all medications, the cost of Trulance can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:
- your insurance coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- whether Trulance has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)
To find out what the cost of Trulance 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 Trulance. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Trulance 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 Trulance requires prior authorization.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Trulance.
What’s the cost of Trulance with and without insurance?
The cost of Trulance with and without insurance can vary based on several factors.
For example, the cost of Trulance with insurance may depend on your plan’s coverage benefits and whether you have a set copay (the amount you must pay) for brand name medications. If you have insurance, you may also need to meet certain prior authorization requirements before the cost of Trulance is covered. This can affect your cost for Trulance with insurance.
However, if you don’t have insurance coverage, your cost for Trulance may depend on whether you’re eligible for any cost savings programs. Your cost may also depend on the pharmacy you use to fill your prescription.
If you have questions about the cost of Trulance, talk with your pharmacist or insurance provider (if you have coverage).
How do the costs of Trulance and Linzess compare?
The costs of Trulance and Linzess depend on whether you have insurance coverage or are paying out of pocket. If your insurance plan covers the costs of Trulance and Linzess, your cost may be the same based on your plan benefits, such as any copays and deductibles.
However, if you don’t have insurance, your cost for each drug may depend on whether you qualify for any cost savings programs from the manufacturer. Your cost may also depend on the pharmacy you use to fill your prescription.
To learn more about how the costs of Trulance and Linzess compare, ask your doctor or insurance provider (if you have coverage) for more information.
Keep in mind that if you have insurance, your plan may only cover one drug.
If you need financial support to pay for Trulance, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:
- A program called the Trulance Savings Card Program is available for Trulance. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, visit the program website. This program offers a Trulance $25 coupon card toward the cost of the medication for those with private insurance who qualify. This Trulance copay card may be used to offset the cost of the medication. You can ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider for more information.
- 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.
Trulance is only available as a brand-name drug. It doesn’t come in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication.
Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.
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 Trulance 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 Trulance. 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
Trulance 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.
Now that you’ve learned about cost and Trulance, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Trulance. However, if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for Trulance.
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 Trulance, refer to this article.
- Dosage. Learn about Trulance and dosage by viewing this article.
- Side effects. For details about Trulance’s side effects, see this article. You can also look at the Trulance prescribing information.
- Drug comparison. Find out how Trulance compares with Linzess by referring to this article.
- Information about your condition. For more information about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), see our IBS 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.