Search for articles or Rx savings
Key takeaways
Pantoprazole sodium, a generic drug used to treat conditions caused by excess stomach acid, costs about $174 for 30, 40 mg tablets without insurance.
Most health insurance plans cover pantoprazole, but using a SingleCare discount card can significantly reduce the cost for those without insurance.
Over-the-counter proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers present more affordable alternatives for treating acid-related conditions.
Comparing pharmacy prices and considering alternative medications like omeprazole can also help manage treatment costs without insurance.
- Is pantoprazole sodium covered by insurance?
- How much does pantoprazole sodium cost without insurance?
- How to get pantoprazole sodium without insurance
- What is the brand name for pantoprazole sodium?
- Is pantoprazole sodium covered by insurance?
- How much does pantoprazole sodium cost without insurance?
- Compare Protonix (pantoprazole sodium) prices to related drugs
- How to get pantoprazole sodium without insurance
- Is pantoprazole sodium covered by insurance?
- How much does pantoprazole sodium cost without insurance?
- How to get pantoprazole sodium without insurance
- What is the brand name for pantoprazole sodium?
- Is pantoprazole sodium covered by insurance?
- How much does pantoprazole sodium cost without insurance?
- Compare Protonix (pantoprazole sodium) prices to related drugs
- How to get pantoprazole sodium without insurance
Pantoprazole is a prescription drug used to treat certain problems caused by too much stomach acid. It is FDA-approved to treat inflammation of the esophagus, or erosive esophagitis, caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It can also treat frequent heartburn, stomach ulcers, and conditions that cause an overproduction of stomach acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Pantoprazole works as a proton-pump inhibitor, which blocks the stomach’s production of acid.
As a generic drug, pantoprazole is usually cheaper than brand-name versions, and it’s typically covered by insurance. However, people without insurance may have to pay the full retail price of the drug. Fortunately, there are several ways to get pantoprazole without insurance for an affordable price.
Related: Protonix side effects
What is the brand name for pantoprazole sodium?
Protonix and Protonix I.V. are the original brand names of pantoprazole. Protonix is the brand name for the tablet and oral suspension form, while Protonix I.V. is the brand name for the intravenous injection. Protonix has an average cash price of around $780 for 30 tablets, which is four times greater than the average cash price of generic Protonix at $170.
Is pantoprazole sodium covered by insurance?
Pantoprazole is usually covered by health insurance, Medicare Part D drug plans, and Medicaid plans. Health insurance plans that may cover pantoprazole include Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare. Most insurance plans cover only generic pantoprazole, and some may have restrictions or quantity limits. Off-label uses may not be covered. In general, you can expect the copay cost to be low, though other factors, such as coinsurance or coverage gaps, may affect the out-of-pocket cost.
How much does pantoprazole sodium cost without insurance?
The average retail price for pantoprazole is about $170 for 30, 40 mg delayed-release tablets—about $6 per tablet. Your total cost for treatment may vary depending on the treated condition. For example, treatment for erosive esophagitis could last up to eight weeks or longer. Thirty tablets may be a 30-day or a 15-day supply depending on the prescription, as pantoprazole is usually taken once or twice daily. That means the monthly cost without insurance could be as much as $340.
People without insurance do have other treatment options. While other prescription proton-pump inhibitors cost more than pantoprazole, omeprazole costs about $100 for 30, 20 mg capsules. Over-the-counter (OTC) versions may be an option. A lower-cost OTC proton-pump inhibitor such as Prilosec OTC (omeprazole magnesium), Nexium 24 HR (esomeprazole), and Prevacid 24 HR (lansoprazole) can help treat frequent heartburn or GERD. However, it’s important to get medical advice about these other options from the prescribing healthcare provider.
Another option is to switch to a different type of stomach acid reducer called an H2 blocker. Most H2 blockers come in both prescription and OTC formulations, which may vary in cost. However, H2 blockers, such as cimetidine and famotidine, are generally cheaper than proton-pump inhibitors, at almost half the price in some cases. Their effectiveness, side effects, and drug interactions will differ, so discuss these options with your prescriber.
Compare Protonix (pantoprazole sodium) prices to related drugs |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Pantoprazole sodium | $174 per 30, 40 mg tablets | $4 per 30, 40 mg tablets of generic pantoprazole sodium | See latest prices |
| Protonix
(pantoprazole sodium) |
$780 per 30, 40 mg tablets | $4 per 30, 40 mg tablets of brand-name Protonix | See latest prices |
| Prilosec (omeprazole) | $95 per 30, 20 mg capsules | $4 per 30, 20 mg capsules of generic omeprazole | See latest prices |
| Nexium (esomeprazole) | $1200 per 30, 40 mg solution | $383 per 30, 40 mg solution of generic esomeprazole | See latest prices |
| Prevacid (lansoprazole) | $186 per 30, 30 mg capsules | $5 per 30, 30 mg capsules of generic lansoprazole | See latest prices |
| Pepcid (famotidine) | $85 per 60, 20 mg tablets | $4 per 60, 20 mg tablets of generic famotidine | See latest prices |
| Tagamet (cimetidine) | $77 per 60, 200 mg tablets | $8 per per 60, 200 mg tablets | 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 “Savings options” link to see the latest drug prices.
How to get pantoprazole sodium without insurance
At $170 per month, pantoprazole treatment may be difficult to afford for people without insurance. Fortunately, most treatments should only last a month or two, so the expenses may be limited. Even so, people without health insurance coverage have a few cost-saving options, starting with a SingleCare prescription discount card.
1. Take advantage of SingleCare discount prices
The lowest SingleCare discount price for 30, 40 mg pantoprazole tablets is $4, a savings of $170 off the average retail price. SingleCare discounts vary by pharmacy, so consult SingleCare’s pantoprazole free coupons page for available savings. While there, scroll down to the FAQs for more savings and drug information.
2. Compare pharmacy prices
Compare pantoprazole prescription prices on SingleCare’s pharmacy finder page. The lowest price for 30 tablets of pantoprazole is $130 less than the highest pharmacy price.
3. Talk to the prescriber about switching to omeprazole
Omeprazole is a proton-pump inhibitor, like pantoprazole, but the monthly costs are about $70 on average. It is FDA-approved for many of the same conditions as pantoprazole, and prescribers use it for many of the same off-label uses.
4. Ask for medical advice about over-the-counter PPIs
Over-the-counter proton-pump inhibitors, which generally have lower strengths than prescription versions, are available to relieve frequent heartburn. Many OTC proton-pump inhibitors come in generic forms that usually sell for a lower price than prescription-strength formulations. Ask your prescribing healthcare provider about the available alternatives.
5. Consider switching to another type of stomach acid reducer
If prescription omeprazole is too pricey and over-the-counter PPIs are not appropriate, ask about switching to a prescription or over-the-counter H2 blocker. Although H2 blockers work differently than PPIs, these prescription medications help reduce the amount of acid in the stomach. Many of them, like famotidine and cimetidine, are low-cost prescription drugs that may also be available over the counter in different strengths.