Brilinta generic availability, cost, and dosage

In this article:

• Brilinta generic availability
• What are the differences between generic and brand-name Brilinta?
• How much does generic Brilinta cost?
• Brand vs. generic Brilinta prices
• Is Brilinta covered by insurance?
• Brilinta vs. ticagrelor insurance coverage
• How do you get Brilinta covered by insurance?

In this article

• Brilinta generic availability
• What are the differences between generic and brand-name Brilinta?
• How much does generic Brilinta cost?
• Brand vs. generic Brilinta prices
• Is Brilinta covered by insurance?
• Brilinta vs. ticagrelor insurance coverage
• How do you get Brilinta covered by insurance?

Brilinta (ticagrelor) is a brand-name antiplatelet drug that’s been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce the risk of certain complications of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including heart attack and stroke. AstraZeneca first manufactured Brilinta in 2011. In 2018, the FDA approved the manufacture of generic Brilinta, and now more than a dozen pharmaceutical companies make this prescription medication. Choosing ticagrelor, the generic for Brilinta, may help you save money at the pharmacy.

What are the differences between generic and brand-name Brilinta?

Generic ticagrelor and brand-name Brilinta contain the same active ingredient at the same dosage and provide the same therapeutic effects. The differences boil down to the manufacturer, inactive ingredients, and tablet appearance.

“The FDA requires generic drugs to be bioequivalent to the brand-name version. This is defined as having the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form, and route of administration,” explains Gerome Burke, MD, medical toxicologist, and Program Director for Research and Reporting at the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “The generic must also have the same functional effect on the body within a very strict margin of difference. Generics are just as effective and safe for patients prescribed the medication.”

That said, a small amount of high-blood-pressure medication research suggests that meaningful differences sometimes exist between branded and generic medications. For example, a study from 2017 noted that the release of three generic high blood pressure medications coincided with an increase in reported side effects, and a study from 2020 found that people were less likely to be hospitalized for depression symptoms if they took brand-name medications rather than generics. 

However, when a team of cardiologists compared Brilinta and generic ticagrelor in 2022, they found no differences in side effects or therapeutic outcomes.

A systematic review and meta-analysis from 2025 suggests that the majority of cardiovascular medications, including all anticoagulants, provide the same results whether branded or generic. Of the 20 studies that found differences, 75% reported better results with branded medications, and the other 25% reported better results with generics. 

Different manufacturers and inactive ingredients

AstraZeneca holds the patent to make brand-name Brilinta. Watson Labs was the first pharmaceutical company approved to make generic ticagrelor in 2018. Now, many companies make this medication. 

Each manufacturer may slightly modify the inactive ingredients in a ticagrelor tablet, such as its preservatives, fillers, and dyes. In rare cases, some people experience allergic reactions to inactive ingredients. If you have a known allergy, a healthcare professional or pharmacist can help you obtain a generic version of ticagrelor from a manufacturer that uses ingredients you are not allergic to.  

Different appearances 

You may also notice differences in shape, color, and imprints between Brilinta and ticagrelor, depending on the manufacturer. Brand-name Brilinta is a round tablet that’s either pink (60 mg) or yellow (90 mg). Each tablet is imprinted with 60 or 90 to indicate dosage. A capital T is imprinted below the numbers, and the back of the tablet is blank.

Generic ticagrelor is also available in yellow or pink round tablets. Each manufacturer uses a different imprint. For example, a round yellow tablet with an L on one side and the number 522 on the other side indicates it’s a 90 mg tablet of ticagrelor made by Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited.

How much does generic Brilinta cost?

On average, generic Brilinta retails for about 30% less than brand-name Brilinta, without insurance:

• 60, 90 mg tablets of brand-name Brilinta cost about $626 on average
• 60, 90 mg tablets of generic ticagrelor cost about $437 on average

Without insurance coverage or discounts, simply switching from brand-name Brilinta to generic Brilinta could save you more than $2,000 each year. Using a SingleCare coupon for Brilinta or ticagrelor can help you save even more. 

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of March 17, 2026. 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. 

Is Brilinta covered by insurance?

Brilinta is covered by some insurance plans, but it’s more common to find coverage for generic ticagrelor. Some insurance plans cover neither. 

Many Medicare Part D plans cover ticagrelor. Medicaid coverage varies by state.

Here are some examples of Brilinta insurance coverage:

Restrictions or requirements also vary by insurance plan. Some insurance plans impose quantity limits, meaning you can only get a 30-day refill, not a 90-day refill. Others require you to try another medication first, typically clopidogrel, in a process known as step therapy, in which patients need to “fail” other medications before more expensive medications are insurance-approved. 

“It is very common for insurance plans to have step therapy protocols for cost control,” Dr. Burke says. “A patient’s clinician can successfully argue against step therapy if there is a clear medical reason, such as if Brilinta is necessary from the start due to a previous stent thrombosis or evidence of clopidogrel resistance by the patient.” 

How do you get Brilinta covered by insurance?

If your insurance plan doesn’t cover brand-name or generic Brilinta, ask your healthcare provider to submit an exception request. They’ll send a letter to the insurance company explaining why other covered medications aren’t right for you and why Brilinta is appropriate. For example, if other antiplatelet medications caused intolerable side effects or aren’t safe for you due to your medical history, insurance companies may be willing to cover the cost of generic Brilinta. These approvals may be done on an individual basis and may require a good deal of work on the part of your provider.

Generic alternatives to Brilinta

If your health insurance plan still won’t cover Brilinta or ticagrelor, they may cover other generic alternatives. 

“Clopidogrel (generic Plavix) is widely available at a very low cost,” Dr. Burke says. He warns that some people may not respond well to clopidogrel due to their genetics, and that it’s less effective than ticagrelor. A more effective alternative is prasugrel (generic Effient), but it’s not safe for people who have already had a stroke or have a high risk of bleeding.

If your healthcare provider has prescribed ticagrelor for an off-label use, such as the treatment of stable ischemic heart disease, they may recommend another antiplatelet medication like rivaroxaban (generic Xarelto) or a statin. 

Clopidogrel, prasugrel, and most generic statins are more affordable than ticagrelor with a SingleCare prescription discount card, but rivaroxaban is slightly more expensive. However, you may end up paying less out of pocket if rivaroxaban or another Brilinta alternative is covered by insurance. 

Cost is just one important factor to consider when selecting a medication. Talk to your healthcare provider about which Brilinta alternative makes sense for you.