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Key takeaways
Sutab is a laxative taken as tablets to cleanse the bowels before a colonoscopy. All other bowel prep medications are taken as multidose liquids.
Sutab without insurance costs $242 per course (24 tablets).
Using savings cards, Sutab coupons, and exploring all options to reduce costs can bring Sutab’s out-of-pocket cost to as low as $167 per course, saving $75.
Sutab is a branded laxative prescription medication that induces catharsis in the gastrointestinal tract to empty the bowels. This medication is primarily used for bowel preparation prior to a colonoscopy. Without insurance, Sutab costs $242 for two 12-tablet bottles—the equivalent of one course of treatment.
Save up to 80% on Sutab with SingleCare
Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. SingleCare helps find the best price for you.
How much does Sutab cost without insurance?
Patients without insurance will pay $242, which is the average retail price for two 12-tablet bottles of Sutab for colonoscopy prep. This works out to about $10 per tablet. Colonoscopies are rare and singular events, so bowel prep medications are typically purchased only once every decade by patients between the ages of 45 and 75. Sutab tablets are not an ongoing drug expense.
Sutab is a premium-priced bowel prep medication. It is also the only bowel prep medication taken as tablets rather than mixed with liquids. Patients do have other, lower-priced alternatives, including generic medications. Miralax is the lowest-priced alternative to Sutab, but it contains a different laxative.
How much does generic Sutab cost without insurance?
Sutab is a gentle, osmotic laxative that contains electrolytes as the active ingredient. There are no exact generic versions because Sutab is the only tablet-based bowel prep medication on the market. An exact generic version will not be available until 2037 at the earliest. However, people can use a generic liquid laxative containing the same active ingredients as Sutab.
Compare Sutab prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Sutab (sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate) | $242 per 2, 12 tablet bottles | $167 per 2, 12 tablet bottles of brand-name Sutab at Kroger | See latest prices |
| Suprep (sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate) | $161 per 2, 177 mL bottles | $47 per 2, 177 mL bottles of brand-name Suprep at CVS | See latest prices |
| Clenpiq (sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, anhydrous citric acid) | $249 for 2, 175 mL bottles | $153 for 2, 175 mL bottles of brand-name Clenpiq at Kroger | See latest prices |
| MiraLAX (polyethylene glycol 3350) | $22 for 1, 238 gm bottle | $10 for 1, 238 gm bottle of brand-name Miralax at Walgreens | See latest prices |
| Golytely | $42 per 1, 4000 mL bottle | $14 per 1, 4000 mL bottle of brand-name Golytely at Kroger | See latest prices |
| MoviPrep (PEG 3350, electrolytes) | $181 for 1, 4-pouch kit | $66 for 1, 4-pouch kit of brand-name Moviprep at CVS | See latest prices |
| Plenvu (PEG 3350, electrolytes) | $205 for 1, 3-pouch kit | $149 for 1, 3-pouch kit of brand-name Plenvu at Kroger | See latest prices |
| Suflave (PEG 3350, electrolytes) | $192 for 1, 2-packet kit | $128 for 1, 2-packet kit of brand-name Suflave at Kroger | See latest prices |
Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of November 3, 2025. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.
Is Sutab covered by insurance?
Sutab tablets are covered by some health insurance plans, Medicare Part D plans, and Medicare Advantage plans. Examples include the Anthem Five Tier drug plan, Optum Rx Select Standard plan, Humana Medicare Advantage, and Cigna Medicare plans. These plans usually place Sutab in the highest copay tiers, but the manufacturer offers a copay card that helps offset the out-of-pocket cost for insured patients. While the Affordable Care Act mandates that Medicare should cover all costs associated with colonoscopy screenings, most insurance companies do not offer Sutab. Some, instead, only offer generic bowel prep laxatives for $0 out of pocket.
Unfortunately, many insurance plans do not cover Sutab. They cover the liquid version, which is composed of the same active ingredients but available as a generic product, sometimes as part of the medical procedure. Medicaid coverage varies by state, but all Medicaid programs cover generic bowel prep medications.
How to get Sutab covered by insurance
Many insurance plans do not cover Sutab, so the most likely reason a prescription will be rejected is that the insurance company does not include Sutab in its formulary. The most practical solution is to switch to a covered bowel prep medication. All insurance plans cover generic bowel prep medications, and many cover one or more brand-name bowel prep medications. If Sutab is absolutely necessary, ask the prescriber to submit a formulary exception that includes a letter of medical necessity.
How to get Sutab without insurance
Paying for expensive brand-name medications like Sutab without insurance may be challenging, particularly since the procedure itself is pricey. Fortunately, there are alternatives to paying the full price of your Sutab prescription. Manufacturer coupons and patient assistance programs are sometimes available, but not everyone can meet the eligibility requirements. Here are some more dependable ways to save money on Sutab, starting with SingleCare’s prescription drug discount program.
1. Use a SingleCare savings card
A SingleCare discount card can reduce the cost of Sutab from an average of $242 per course to $167, resulting in a total savings of $75. The Frequently Asked Questions section on the Sutab coupons page contains additional information about possible savings. While there, sign up for SingleCare’s free loyalty savings program to earn bonus savings offers on other prescription medications.
2. Check different pharmacies
Compare prices at different pharmacies to find the best cash price. The retail cash prices vary between pharmacies, so finding the best price can save a few dollars.
3. Ask the prescribing healthcare provider about switching to a different laxative
When used as directed, all bowel prep medications are effective, safe, and gentle. Switching to Miralax, for instance, could reduce the total out-of-pocket cost to $22, which is 10% of the cost of Sutab. If there is a reason, such as side effects or allergic reactions, to take an electrolyte laxative, two bottles of bowel prep medication with the same active ingredients as Sutab cost about $180.
- American Cancer Society guideline for colorectal cancer screening, American Cancer Society (2024)
- Paragraph IV patent certifications, August 18, 2025, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Sutab, Braintree Laboratories (Sebela Pharmaceuticals)
- Sutab HCP, Braintree Laboratories (Sebela Pharmaceuticals)