How much is cyclobenzaprine HCl (Fexmid) without insurance?

Is cyclobenzaprine HCl covered by insurance? | How much does cyclobenzaprine HCl cost without insurance? | How to get cyclobenzaprine HCl without insurance

Cyclobenzaprine is a generic prescription skeletal muscle relaxant. As with other muscle relaxants, it’s FDA approved along with rest and physical therapy to relieve muscle spasm and muscle tightness. Many patients, though, think of it as a pain reliever. By relaxing sprained, strained, or pulled muscles, cyclobenzaprine alleviates both muscle pain and muscle stiffness. It’s often used to relieve back pain and neck pain since these are often due to pulled muscles. Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, and constipation. Prescriptions are usually limited to a short time, no more than three weeks. This will limit the total cost for people without insurance.

Related: Cyclobenzaprine HCl dosage

What is the brand name for cyclobenzaprine HCl?

Fexmid is the brand-name version of cyclobenzaprine. It’s about five times more expensive than generic cyclobenzaprine. A healthcare professional might write a prescription using the original discontinued brand name Flexeril, but the pharmacist will fill the prescription with generic cyclobenzaprine.

The drug can also be prescribed in an extended-release format, cyclobenzaprine HCl ER. These capsules only need to be taken once per day. The price per pill is higher, but the cost per day is about one-third less than immediate-release cyclobenzaprine. Amrix is the brand-name version of extended-release cyclobenzaprine. A 10-day supply of Amrix costs about $500. 

Is cyclobenzaprine HCl covered by insurance?

Cyclobenzaprine is usually covered by health insurance and Medicaid, but some plans may not cover it. Copay costs should be low, though the final out-of-pocket cost will depend on factors like coinsurance and coverage gaps. The insurance plan may impose restrictions such as prior authorization, quantity limits, or age limits. 

Age restrictions bring us to Medicare drug plans. Immediate-release cyclobenzaprine is considered a high-risk drug for older patients. However, it is typically covered by Medicare Part D drug plans. Some insurance plans may require prior authorization because of the risk. Cyclobenzapine ER is contraindicated for use in people older than 65, so it’s less likely to be covered by Medicare. 

How much does cyclobenzaprine HCl cost without insurance?

People without insurance should expect to pay a retail price of about $20 for 30, 10 mg tablets of immediate-release cyclobenzaprine. At three tablets per day, this is enough medicine to last 10 days and averages out to about $2 per day. 

Are there cheaper alternatives? For muscle relaxants, cyclobenzaprine is among the lowest-priced options. Other generic muscle relaxants are comparably priced include carisoprodol, chlorzoxazone, baclofen, and tizanidine. Some may even be cheaper, but not by much. Many of these drugs work differently than cyclobenzaprine, so ask for medical advice before switching.

Savings could be realized by switching to a different type of drug. Besides muscle relaxants, treatment options include benzodiazepines, opioids, antidepressants, and NSAIDs. Many common generics in these drug families cost less than muscle relaxants. Again, these are very different medications than cyclobenzaprine. They may not be as effective and they will have a different safety profile.

The cheapest alternative may be a SingleCare savings card. The lowest SingleCare price for a 10-day supply of cyclobenzaprine is only $3, a savings off the average retail price of $21.

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. 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.

How to get cyclobenzaprine HCl without insurance

Cyclobenzaprine is a moderately-priced drug that is usually prescribed only for a few weeks. That’s the good news for people without insurance coverage. The better news is that people without insurance can find significant savings on their cyclobenzaprine prescription and other meds. For instance, a SingleCare prescription discount card could net discounts of 80% or more on generic prescription medications.

1. Use a SingleCare savings card when filling prescriptions

The lowest price for 30, 10 mg tablets of generic cyclobenzaprine can be as low as $3 with a free coupon from SingleCare. Browse current discounts on SingleCare’s cyclobenzaprine coupons page. Scroll down to the FAQs section on that page for more savings and drug information. 

2. Buy cyclobenzaprine at the lowest price 

The lowest pharmacy price for 30, 10 mg tablets of cyclobenzaprine is $17. That’s about $20 cheaper than the average cash price for the same prescription.

3. Switch to another muscle relaxant

Switching to extended-release cyclobenzaprine may cut the price of the prescription.. Another option is to switch to a different muscle relaxant. Other muscle relaxants such as tizanidine and chlorzoxazone could be a few dollars cheaper than cyclobenzaprine. Be careful, though. Extended-release cyclobenzaprine has greater risks for older adults. Other types of muscle relaxants work differently than cyclobenzaprine. They may not be as effective and their side effects and drug interactions will be different. Get medical advice before switching.

4. Switch to another treatment

Keep in mind that cyclobenzaprine is only a short-term solution. It’s only given for one, two, or three weeks. After that, other medications may be needed. Before starting the prescription, ask the prescriber for medical advice about other treatment options including NSAIDs, antidepressants, and other medications. Not only could they be more affordable, but they also may be the treatment that is eventually used for the long term.