Celebrex (celecoxib) is a prescription drug used to treat arthritis and certain other conditions. Celebrex’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.

Celebrex is used in adults to treat:

Celebrex is also used to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in certain children.

The active ingredient in Celebrex is celecoxib. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) It comes as a capsule that you swallow.

For more details on Celebrex, see this in-depth article.

The price you pay for Celebrex can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage (if you have it), and the pharmacy you use.

To find out how much you’ll pay for Celebrex, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Note: If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover Celebrex. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Celebrex in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Celebrex requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.

Be sure to ask your insurance company whether Celebrex requires prior authorization.

Celebrex is available as the generic drug celecoxib. A generic contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original drug but tends to cost less.

To find out how the costs of Celebrex and celecoxib compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed Celebrex and you’re interested in taking celecoxib instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you take one version instead of the other. In addition, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider. This is because it may only cover one drug or the other.

Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?

Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.

If you take Celebrex long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:

Look into getting a 90-day supply of your medication. You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Celebrex if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Celebrex. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Celebrex. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug through 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 help covering the cost of Celebrex or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:

On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Celebrex and cost.

Is Celebrex available over the counter? If so, what’s the price?

No. Celebrex is only available by prescription. You’ll need to visit your doctor to get a prescription for the medication. The cost you’ll pay for Celebrex depends on whether you have insurance or are paying out of pocket. Your cost can also depend on your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Talk with your doctor if you’re interested in learning more about the cost of Celebrex to treat your condition.

Are the prices different for certain strengths of Celebrex, such as 50 mg vs. 400 mg?

Yes, it’s possible. Your cost for different strengths of Celebrex may depend on whether you have health insurance or are paying out of pocket. For example, if you have a set copay (your share of the cost) for brand-name medications through your insurance plan, your cost would be the same for every strength of Celebrex.

If you don’t have insurance, your price could vary based on the strength of Celebrex you’re prescribed. Typically, the cost for Celebrex would be higher without insurance than with insurance.

Your cost without insurance could also depend on your treatment plan and other factors such as the pharmacy you use.

If you have questions about the cost of Celebrex, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one). They can tell you what you can expect to pay based on the dosage you’re prescribed.

If you still have questions about the cost of Celebrex, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for Celebrex.

Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:

  • Is my cost for Celebrex based on my condition?
  • If I don’t have insurance, would it be less expensive to take the lowest dose of Celebrex?
  • Are there other medications available to treat my condition that cost less than Celebrex?

To learn more about Celebrex, see these articles:

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Disclaimer: Healthline 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.