Sulfasalazine is a generic prescription drug used in adults and children to treat ulcerative colitis and certain types of arthritis. Sulfasalazine’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage and the pharmacy you use.
The price you pay for sulfasalazine can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.
To find out how much you’ll pay for sulfasalazine, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or look below in the next section to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.
To save money on your sulfasalazine prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)
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Retail price refers to the manufacturer’s published list price and is up to date as of 3/2023. Retail and discounted prices are U.S.-only and can vary based on region and pharmacy. We cannot guarantee that the discounted price listed here will exactly match the price at your pharmacy. Please contact your pharmacy for the exact price.
Optum Perks and Healthline are subsidiaries of RVO Health.
Pricing source:Perks.optum.com
Sulfasalazine 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.
Sulfasalazine comes in brand-name versions called Azulfidine and Azulfidine EN-tabs. To find out how the costs of Azulfidine and sulfasalazine compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If you’ve been prescribed sulfasalazine and you’re interested in taking Azulfidine instead, 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.
If you take sulfasalazine 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 sulfasalazine if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of sulfasalazine. 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 sulfasalazine. 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 sulfasalazine 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 sulfasalazine and cost.
How does sulfasalazine’s cost compare with that of similar drugs, such as mesalamine?
Sulfasalazine’s cost compared with the cost of mesalamine (Apriso, Lialda, others) can depend on several factors.
For example, the form of the drug your doctor prescribes may affect the cost. Sulfasalazine comes as an oral tablet and a delayed-release oral tablet. (“Delayed release” means the drug is released into your body slowly over time.) Mesalamine comes as a delayed-release oral capsule, delayed-release oral tablet, suppository, and rectal enema.
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 sulfasalazine 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. You can also see this article for more information on mesalamine’s cost.
How much does sulfasalazine cost without insurance?
The cost of sulfasalazine without insurance depends on several factors. But in general, your cost will be higher without insurance.
Your cost for sulfasalazine may depend on factors such as:
- your treatment plan and dosage
- whether you qualify for any savings programs
- the form of the drug you’re prescribed
- the pharmacy you choose
- the supply of medication you receive (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)
To find out the exact cost of sulfasalazine without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Also, you may want to check with a few pharmacies to compare prices.
You can also visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for sulfasalazine 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.
If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover sulfasalazine. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss sulfasalazine in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If sulfasalazine 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 sulfasalazine requires prior authorization.
If you still have questions about the cost of sulfasalazine, 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 sulfasalazine.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
- Will the quantity of sulfasalazine my doctor prescribes affect the cost?
- Is there a cost difference between sulfasalazine regular oral tablets and the delayed-release oral tablets?
- What options do I have if I can’t afford my medication?
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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.