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How much is phenobarbital without insurance?

Phenobarbital costs $49. Here's how to save on phenobarbital without insurance.
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By | Jun. 11, 2023 Medically reviewed by Stephanie Melby, Pharm.D.
Rx tablets: How much does phenobarbital cost without insurance

Key takeaways

  • Phenobarbital, a generic prescription barbiturate used for sedation or seizure control, costs about $49 for 60 tablets without insurance, with injections costing significantly more.

  • Insurance may cover phenobarbital for FDA-approved uses, but coverage varies, and some plans have restrictions or place it in a high copay tier.

  • The SingleCare prescription discount card can significantly reduce the cost of phenobarbital, offering prices as low as $8 for 60 tablets.

  • Other cost-saving strategies include shopping for the lowest price, asking healthcare providers about lower-cost alternatives, and checking eligibility for Medicaid.

In this article:

Phenobarbital is a generic prescription barbiturate used as a sedative or anticonvulsant. Healthcare professionals prescribe phenobarbital as a short-term treatment for insomnia or to control seizures. As an injection, phenobarbital sodium is used as a sedative before and after medical procedures and in people with medical conditions that require sedation or immediate seizure treatment. Phenobarbital slows down the central nervous system and stabilizes electrical activity in the brain. It can be taken as a tablet, elixir, liquid, or injection, but a healthcare provider often administers injections in clinical settings. Phenobarbital treatment may be a one-time cost or an ongoing monthly prescription. No matter the case, prescription savings are available to help reduce that cost.

What is the brand name for phenobarbital?

Phenobarbital is an old drug only available as a generic for treating adults and children. However, Sezaby is a brand-name version of phenobarbital sodium that is FDA-approved to treat seizures in newborns. Luminal and Solfoton are brand-name versions of phenobarbital that are no longer sold in the U.S.

Is phenobarbital covered by insurance?

Phenobarbital is usually covered by health insurance plans, Medicare Part D drug plans, and Medicaid for FDA-approved uses. However, coverage may vary, and some insurance plans may not include phenobarbital in their formulary. Insurance companies sometimes restrict phenobarbital reimbursement, including prior authorization and quantity limits. For plans that place phenobarbital in the highest copay tier, people can expect to pay a more significant percentage of the cash price than they would with other common generic drugs. Other policies, such as deductibles and coverage gaps, will also affect the final out-of-pocket cost.

How much does phenobarbital cost without insurance?

People without insurance coverage could pay the full retail price of nearly $50 for 60, 16.2 mg phenobarbital tablets or a little less than one dollar per tablet. The average dose is two to three tablets daily for people with a seizure disorder, so 60 tablets should cover 20 to 30 days of treatment. A single injection of phenobarbital sodium could cost $300 or more. This is usually a one-time cost and will be billed by a hospital or clinic.

For people with epilepsy, phenobarbital is one of the lowest-cost seizure control medications. Primidone is a lower-cost barbiturate often prescribed to treat seizures, but it may not be appropriate for all types of seizures. Among non-barbiturate anticonvulsants, immediate-release phenytoin is the cheapest option. Commonly-prescribed anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, topiramate, lamotrigine, and levetiracetam have retail prices higher than phenobarbital. However, many of these other anticonvulsants do not have some of the more problematic side effects of barbiturates, such as drowsiness and withdrawal symptoms. 

The least expensive option may be to use a SingleCare prescription discount card when purchasing phenobarbital or any other prescription medication. The lowest SingleCare price for phenobarbital tablets is $8 for 60, 16.2 mg tablets.
Drug name Price without insurance of brand-name drug  SingleCare price Savings options
Phenobarbital $49 per 60, 16.20 mg tablets $8 per 60, 16.20 mg tablets of generic phenobarbital See latest prices
Levetiracetam $127 per 60, 500 mg tablets $5 per 60, 500 mg tablets of generic levetiracetam  See latest prices
Phenytoin $38 per 1, 237 mL of 125 mg/5 mL suspension  $12 per 1, 237 mL of 125 mg/5 mL suspension of generic phenytoin See latest prices
Carbamazepine $84 per 60, 200 mg tablets $11 per 60, 200 mg tablets of generic carbamazepine See latest prices
Oxcarbazepine $156 per 60, 300 mg tablets $9 per 60, 300 mg tablets of generic oxcarbazepine See latest prices
Lamotrigine $108 per 30, 100 mg tablets $3 per 30, 100 mg tablets of generic lamotrigine 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 phenobarbital without insurance

As a one-time prescription, phenobarbital will probably not cost much. However, if taken daily, the cost can quickly add up for people without insurance. Patient assistance programs and manufacturer coupons may help for some brand-name prescription drugs but are only sometimes offered for lower-cost generic drugs. The first place to find prescription savings is to discover SingleCare’s prescription discount program. With a free coupon from SingleCare, a 20 or 30-day supply of phenobarbital could cost as little as $6.

1. Use a SingleCare savings card

The lowest SingleCare discount price for 60, 16.2 mg phenobarbital tablets is $6, about $43 less than the average retail price. The actual discount will depend on the dosage prescribed and the participating pharmacy—Browse SingleCare’s phenobarbital coupons page for discount prices available at local pharmacies. The FAQs section on this page will also have valuable savings and drug information.

-2. Shop for the lowest price

Consult the phenobarbital pricing history table on SingleCare’s phenobarbital coupons page. Buying phenobarbital at the lowest price can save almost $20 off the average retail price. 

3. Ask about lower-cost treatment options

Phenobarbital is one of the most cost-effective medications for a seizure disorder, but there are lower-priced alternatives such as primidone and phenytoin. There will be trade-offs, so ask the prescribing healthcare provider for medical advice while discussing lower-cost options.

4. Enroll in Medicaid

Not everyone will qualify for Medicaid, but consider the eligibility requirements if it’s difficult to pay for generic prescription drugs like phenobarbital. Eligible patients will pay only a few dollars or nothing for common prescription medications, office visits, tests, and medical procedures. Eligibility requirements, enrollment procedures, and additional information are all explained on each state’s Medicaid website.