Isotretinoin and Cost: What You Need to Know

How much does isotretinoin cost?

The price you pay for isotretinoin can vary. To find out how much you’ll pay for this medication, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or check out the section below to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.

Isotretinoin coupons and savings

To save money on your isotretinoin prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)

Is isotretinoin available as a brand-name drug?

Isotretinoin is a generic drug. 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.

Isotretinoin comes in a brand-name version called Accutane, which is no longer available. It’s also available as branded-generic products, including Absorica, Amnesteem, and Claravis. (Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active drug. But branded-generic drugs are given a propriety name by the drugmaker.)

To find out how the costs of the various generic versions of Accutane compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed isotretinoin and you’re interested in a different generic version, talk with your doctor. They may recommend that you take one version instead of the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as 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 exclusively 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.

How can I lower my long-term drug costs?

If you take isotretinoin 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 isotretinoin if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of isotretinoin. If you’re interested in 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 isotretinoin. 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.

Can I get help paying for isotretinoin?

If you need help covering the cost of isotretinoin or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:

• Absorica Copay Card Program
• NeedyMeds
• Medicine Assistance Tool

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.

FAQ about cost and isotretinoin

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

What’s the cost of isotretinoin with insurance vs. without insurance?

The cost of isotretinoin with insurance versus without insurance can vary based on several factors.

Factors that may affect your cost of isotretinoin without insurance include:

• your treatment plan and drug dosage
• the pharmacy you use
• the quantity of isotretinoin you receive (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)
• any cost savings programs you qualify and apply for

The same factors affect the cost of the drug if you’re paying through insurance. But your cost with insurance may also depend on:

• your individual plan benefits
• any prior authorization requirements for your plan (see the “Prior authorization” section below for more information)

To learn more about your costs with and without insurance, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one).

Whether you have insurance or not, you can visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for isotretinoin when you use coupons from the site. It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.

How does isotretinoin’s cost compare with that of similar drugs, such as tretinoin?

The cost of isotretinoin compared with the cost of tretinoin can depend on several factors. For example, tretinoin comes in a different form than isotretinoin, which may affect the price. Isotretinoin comes only as an oral capsule, while tretinoin comes as an oral capsule and as a topical gel, cream, or lotion.

Other factors that may affect how much you pay include:

• whether there are any savings programs available for the drug you’re prescribed
• whether you have insurance or are paying out of pocket
• how long your treatment lasts

If you have questions about the cost of isotretinoin compared with the cost of similar medications, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They can share more details on treatment costs based on your specific situation.

Prior authorization

If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover isotretinoin. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss isotretinoin in regard to your treatment. Then, the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If isotretinoin 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 isotretinoin requires prior authorization.

What should my next steps be?

If you still have questions about the cost of isotretinoin, 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 price you’d pay for isotretinoin.

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

• What is the least expensive generic version of isotretinoin?
• Will the cost I pay for isotretinoin be lower if I take the branded generic with a discount card compared with another generic version?
• What lower cost acne medication could I take instead of isotretinoin?
• What’s the difference in cost between isotretinoin and tretinoin oral capsules?

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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.