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How much is cyclosporine without insurance?

Generic cyclosporine, costs $243. Here's how to save on cyclosporine without insurance
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By | Jul. 3, 2024
Three Rx pill bottles: How much is cyclosporine without insurance?

Key takeaways

  • Cyclosporine is available for both systemic and topical indications. It is a medication used for a narrow scope of clinical scenarios.

  • Some cyclosporine formulations are only branded options, while others are available as generics. Generic medications will generally cost less to out-of-pocket payers.

  • Additional ways to reduce insurance costs include using a SingleCare discount card or researching manufacturer savings cards.

  • Cyclosporine can significantly improve the quality of life for the indications it treats. If the cost of taking the medication as prescribed is prohibitive, speak with a healthcare professional. Assistance in identifying lower-cost options or access to programs to reduce costs may be available.

In this article:

Cyclosporine (the generic active ingredient found in Gengraf, Neoral, and Sandimmune) is a prescription medication in the drug class known as calcineurin inhibitors. This drug class plays a key role in the immunosuppression of solid organ transplant recipients to prevent rejection. It has also been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in managing immune-mediated diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Without insurance, the cash price of cyclosporine as Gengraf can cost around $245 for 30, 100 mg tablets. Cyclosporine is also available in various ophthalmic formulations for topical administration. Restasis is cyclosporine, available as an ophthalmic emulsion for dry eye disease. A 30-day supply cash price for Restasis costs around $400. Some other ophthalmic cyclosporine formulations are slightly less expensive without insurance, but there are no over-the-counter alternatives. This article will discuss some cost-saving techniques.

What is the brand name for cyclosporine?

Cyclosporine is available as an oral capsule or solution, as well as an intravenous formulation. It is also available as eye drops in both an emulsion and solution. Oral cyclosporine is available in its original formulation (Sandimmune) and is more rapidly and consistently absorbed (Neoral and Gengraf, also called cyclosporine modified). For these reasons, cyclosporine modified is preferred over the original formulation. In addition, because the original and modified oral medications are absorbed differently, they are not interchangeable. 

Cyclosporine eye drops are available to manage chronic dry eye as an emulsion (Restasis) and solution (Cequa, Vevye). Verkazia is yet another ophthalmic cyclosporine formulation specifically indicated for vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Brand and generic formulations of cyclosporine, cyclosporine modified, and cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion are available, which can improve cost without insurance. A 30-day supply of generic cyclosporine modified can be reduced from around $400 per month for 30, 100 mg capsules to half that, or less, for the generic formulation. The ophthalmic solution formulations of cyclosporine are only available as branded prescription medications, with Cequa cash price at approximately $7824 for a 30-day supply and Vevye out-of-pocket price at $990 per 30-day supply. Verkazia is also only available as a branded medication and can run as high as $1995 for a one-month supply. 

Is cyclosporine covered by insurance?

Insurance coverage of prescription drugs is difficult to predict, as each health insurance company creates its own formulary and preferred medications within drug classes and indications. Cyclosporine is typically covered by insurance and Medicare Part D, but coverage and copays will vary by health plan. Working with a healthcare provider to determine health insurance when initiating any prescription drug is important so issues with access and cost can be minimized. 

How much does cyclosporine cost without insurance?

Cyclosporine copays with insurance and Medicare vary by plan. The average cash cost of 30 cyclosporine-modified 100 mg capsules is approximately $200, or $7 per capsule. Because the dose of cyclosporine is weight-based, the dose is individualized by a healthcare professional. For average doses of an 80 kg adult, a 30-day supply of cyclosporine modified will usually require upwards of 60 capsules per month, increasing the monthly cost to the patient without insurance to $400 or $4,800 per year. 

A 30-day supply of the ophthalmic emulsion formulation of cyclosporine as Restasis would run an individual upwards of $400 per month, depending upon the pharmacy. The generic formulation could save a cash-paying individual money since the cost of a 30-day supply is closer to $135. 
Drug name Price without insurance of brand-name drug SingleCare price Savings options
Gengraf 

(cyclosporine modified)  

 $245 per 30, 100 mg capsules $43 per 30, 100 mg capsules See latest prices 
Cequa 

(cyclosporine 0.09% ophthalmic solution) 

 $824 per 60, 0.25 mL single-use vials $578 per 60, 0.25 mL single-use vials See latest prices 
Prograf 

(tacrolimus)

 $545 per 60, 1 mg capsules $23 per 60, 1 mg capsules See latest prices 
Restasis

(cyclosporine 0.05% ophthalmic emulsion)     

 $404 per 1, 60 single-use emulsion vials $135 per 1, 60 single-use emulsion vials See latest prices 
Sandimmune (cyclosporine)  $919 per 30, 25 mg capsules $48 per 30, 25 mg capsules See latest prices 
Verkazia 

(cyclosporine 0.1% ophthalmic emulsion) 

 $1995 per 120, 3 mL single-dose vials $1831 per 120, 3 mL single-dose vials See latest prices 
Vevye 

(cyclosporine 0.1% ophthalmic solution) 

 $992 per 1, 2 mL bottle $774 per 1, 2 mL bottle See latest prices 
Xiidra 

(lifitegrast) 

 $998 per 1, 60 single-use containers $610 per 1, 60 single-use containers 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 cyclosporine without insurance

Paying for costly medications without insurance can be challenging. Fortunately, there are alternatives to paying full price for Gengraf, and even Restasis, without insurance. Manufacturer coupons and patient assistance programs are sometimes available, but only some are eligible for these discounts. Here are some more dependable ways to save money on your prescription:

  1. Using a SingleCare discount card at your local pharmacy can significantly reduce the cash price of these prescription drugs. 
  2. Generic drugs can be substituted for their more expensive branded counterparts. Filling a prescription decreases Gengraf’s cash price from $245 per month for a 30-day supply of 100 mg capsules to $43 per month with its generic. Restasis can be reduced to $135 per month by using a SingleCare coupon for the generic formulation.
  3. Finding eligibility for paying for a larger supply, like a 90-day supply versus a 30-day supply, reduces the cost per dose. 
  4. Investigate the availability of copay cards or savings cards supplied by drug manufacturers for cyclosporine products with unique indications or without generic formulations.