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Is promethazine dm covered by insurance? | How much does promethazine dm cost without insurance? | How to get promethazine dm without insurance
Promethazine HCl-dextromethorphan HBr is the full generic name of promethazine DM, a prescription combination drug that temporarily relieves cough and the common cold and allergy symptoms. Promethazine hydrochloride is an antihistamine and motion sickness drug. As an antihistamine, promethazine blocks histamine, the chemical responsible for symptoms such as runny nose and sneezing due to colds or allergic reactions. Promethazine belongs to a drug class called phenothiazines and is very similar to antipsychotics, so it does cause sedation. Dextromethorphan is a highly effective cough suppressant that is chemically similar to codeine but is not considered an opioid.
What is the brand name for promethazine DM?
Promethazine DM is only available as a generic drug.
Is promethazine DM covered by insurance?
People with health insurance or Medicaid can expect a promethazine DM prescription to be covered. Insurance copays should be low, but the plan may impose other out-of-pocket costs. The combination of medications may be risky for older adults because of potentially severe side effects such as respiratory depression and blood pressure changes. Because of this, insurance companies like Medicare Part D may not have coverage for promethazine-DM or a similar drug, promethazine-codeine. Search Humana’s Medicare formularies for promethazine DM coverage.
How much does promethazine DM cost without insurance?
Without insurance, a bottle containing 118 mL of promethazine DM syrup costs about $30. The standard concentration is 6.25 mg promethazine and 15 mg dextromethorphan for every 5 mL (one teaspoon) of syrup. That’s enough medicine for 23 or 24 teaspoon-sized doses depending on one’s measuring abilities. Each dose costs over $1, and a day’s dextromethorphan DM treatment will cost three or four dollars, depending on the dosage prescribed.
There are less expensive cash-price alternatives. Prescription alternatives that are rarely prescribed include promethazine-codeine and chlorpheniramine-codeine. As an opioid, codeine will produce more significant sedation than dextromethorphan. Benzonatate is another option to help decrease cough, but it will cost more and does not include a histamine inhibitor.
Over-the-counter alternatives include combinations of chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan, doxylamine and dextromethorphan, brompheniramine and dextromethorphan, and diphenhydramine and dextromethorphan. Many of these antihistamine-antitussive combinations include other drugs, including decongestants such as phenylephrine, expectorants such as guaifenesin, or pain relievers such as acetaminophen.
The best option may be to use a SingleCare prescription discount card when picking up a promethazine-dextromethorphan prescription. Currently, the lowest SingleCare price for promethazine DM syrup is $2, an average of 10 cents per dose.
Compare promethazine DM prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Promethazine DM | $32 per 1, 118 mL of 6.25-15 mg/mL syrup | $2 per 1, 118 mL of 6.25-15 mg/mL syrup of generic promethazine DM | See latest prices |
| Mucinex DM | $25 per 20, 12 HR tablets | $6 per 20, 12 HR tablets of brand-name Mucinex DM | See latest prices |
| Promethazine with codeine | $23 per 118 mL of 6.25-10 mg/5 mL solution | $7 per 118 mL of 6.25-10 mg/5 mL solution of generic promethazine with codeine | See latest prices |
| Benzonatate | $48 per 30, 100 mg capsules | $6 per 30, 100 mg capsules of generic benzonatate | See latest prices |
| Delsym | $29 per 1, 180 mL bottle of syrup | $18 per 180 mL bottle of syrup of brand-name Delsym | See latest prices |
| Robitussin DM | $23 per 1, 236 mL bottle of syrup | $8 per 1, 236 mL bottle of syrup of brand-name Robitussin DM | See latest prices |
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 promethazine DM without insurance
A week of promethazine DM treatment costs $32. A single 118 mL bottle of promethazine DM syrup usually lasts for 7 days, depending on the dosage. This cost may challenge some, especially if it’s prescribed for longer than a week. The good news is that the retail price is not the final price. A few strategies can save money. The first place to find savings is SingleCare.
1. Get prescription medication discounts with a SingleCare savings card
The average retail price for 118 mL of promethazine DM syrup is $32. A free coupon from SingleCare lowers that price to $2. Discount prices will vary by participating local pharmacies. Find additional savings and drug information in the FAQs section at the bottom of the page.
2. Find the lowest price
Another way to unlock savings is to price-shop different pharmacies. Because it can be time-consuming to compare prescription drug prices, use SingleCare’s promethazine DM price history table to find the lowest price. That happens to be $12 for one 118 mL bottle of promethazine DM, almost $20 lower than the average retail price. Find the best price on that table and then find the closest local branch of that pharmacy using SingleCare’s pharmacy finder.
3. Ask the prescribing healthcare provider about similar generic drugs
Promethazine DM combines an antihistamine with a cough suppressant. Other prescription antihistamine-antitussive cough syrups FDA-approved to treat cold and allergic rhinitis symptoms may cost less. However, codeine will be an active ingredient. Codeine has different side effects and drug interactions than dextromethorphan, so get medical advice from a healthcare professional first.
4. Ask the prescriber about over-the-counter treatment options
Store shelves contain a wealth of OTC allergy, cold, and flu combination drugs that contain both an antihistamine and a cough suppressant. For people without insurance, there may be a cheaper alternative than prescription drug combinations like promethazine DM. There may be more appropriate medications for people who shouldn’t take promethazine DM, such as breastfeeding women or children two years or younger. Additionally, they are less likely to have unpleasant side effects such as dry mouth or drowsiness.
