Hydrochlorothiazide and cost

Overview of hydrochlorothiazide

Hydrochlorothiazide is a generic prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to:

• treat high blood pressure when taken alone or in combination with other medications that help lower blood pressure
• reduce swelling caused by certain medications or from certain medical conditions, including some heart, liver, and kidney conditions

For these purposes, the drug may be prescribed to adults and children.

For more information about hydrochlorothiazide’s uses, refer to this article.

Drug details

Here are some details about hydrochlorothiazide:

• Drug class: thiazide diuretics
• Drug forms:
  • oral tablet
  • oral capsule
• Brand-name version: not available

Read on to learn about hydrochlorothiazide and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions.

Hydrochlorothiazide cost

As with all medications, the cost of hydrochlorothiazide can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:

• your treatment plan
• your insurance coverage
• the pharmacy you use

To find out what the cost of hydrochlorothiazide 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 hydrochlorothiazide. This means the company and your doctor will discuss hydrochlorothiazide in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered. If a drug requires prior authorization and you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether hydrochlorothiazide requires prior authorization.

Common questions about cost and hydrochlorothiazide

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

Is there a difference in price between hydrochlorothiazide and losartan/hydrochlorothiazide?

The combination drug losartan/hydrochlorothiazide may cost more than hydrochlorothiazide alone. The cost you will pay for either drug will depend on several factors, including your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.

To find out how the costs of these drugs compare, talk with your pharmacist or insurance company.

How much does hydrochlorothiazide cost with insurance and without insurance?

The cost of prescription drugs such as hydrochlorothiazide can vary with insurance and without insurance.

Prescription medications tend to cost more if you do not have insurance. Also, the price you pay for hydrochlorothiazide may be affected by other factors, such as the pharmacy you use.

If you’d like to know more about what you may pay for hydrochlorothiazide with or without insurance, talk with your pharmacist.

Generic vs. brand-name drugs

Hydrochlorothiazide is available only as a generic. It doesn’t come in a brand-name version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Hydrochlorothiazide was based on the brand-name drug HydroDiuril, which is no longer available.

Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Ways to reduce long-term drug costs

If you take hydrochlorothiazide 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 hydrochlorothiazide. 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

Hydrochlorothiazide 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.

Financial and insurance assistance

If you need financial support to pay for hydrochlorothiazide, 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.

Next steps

Now that you’ve learned about cost and hydrochlorothiazide, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to hydrochlorothiazide. However, if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for hydrochlorothiazide.

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 hydrochlorothiazide, refer to this article.
• Information about high blood pressure. For more information about your condition, visit our hypertension 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.