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Key takeaways
Trulance, a drug used to treat IBS-C and CIC, costs $733 without insurance, with no generic version available until possibly 2032.
Insurance coverage for Trulance varies, with 86% of insured individuals having access, though it’s often in the highest copay tiers.
Alternatives to Trulance include other prescription medications like Amitizia and over-the-counter options. Using a SingleCare discount card can reduce the cost to around $470.
Strategies to afford Trulance without insurance include using discount programs, comparing pharmacy prices, considering Medicaid, and exploring dietary changes or over-the-counte alternatives.
Trulance is a brand-name prescription drug, FDA approved to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) or chronic constipation with no identifiable cause (called chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). The active ingredient, plecanatide, promotes bowel movements by stimulating the intestines to secrete water into the bowels. The extra water loosens stools and makes them easier to pass. The most common side effect is diarrhea. Serious side effects include severe diarrhea and allergic reactions. Dosing is straightforward: people take one 3 mg Trulance tablet once per day with or without food. Unfortunately, Trulance is a premium-priced drug with no generic version available. The good news is that people without insurance have a few options to help reduce the cost of Trulance.
What is the generic for Trulance?
The active ingredient in Trulance is plecanatide. At this time, generic plecanatide is not available. The earliest a generic may be available is 2032.
Is Trulance covered by insurance?
The manufacturer advertises that 86% of people with health insurance have access to Trulance, but insurance coverage may vary. Some health insurance plans do not cover Trulance. Those that do may require prior authorization.
Trulance is less likely to be covered by Medicare drug plans and Medicaid. When Trulance is covered, it’s usually placed in the insurance plan’s highest copay tiers, so the out-of-pocket cost may be high. Talk to your insurance company before filling a Trulance prescription to make sure.
How much does Trulance cost without insurance?
Without insurance, a month’s supply of Trulance has an average retail price of $770. That buys 30, 3 mg tablets, which cost about $25 per tablet. A year of Trulance treatment could cost more than $9,000 without health insurance coverage.
The active ingredient in Trulance, plecanatide, belongs to a family of drugs called guanylate cyclase-C agonists. The only available drug like Trulance is the brand-name Linzess (linaclotide). A 30-day supply of Linzess costs about $700, so not much savings can be found by switching.
If affordability is an issue, talk to a prescriber about alternative medications for chronic idiopathic constipation or IBS with constipation. Some may be as expensive as Trulance, but others may be more affordable. The most common alternatives include serotonin agonists, peripheral opioid receptor agonists, and Amitizia (lubiprostone), a chloride channel activator that works like Trulance. The cheapest alternatives are lactulose and over-the-counter Miralax (polyethylene glycol 3350) and docusate, but these drugs have probably been tried and failed before a clinician prescribes Trulance.
The most substantial way to save money may be to use a SingleCare prescription discount card. A 30-day supply of Trulance could cost as little as $470, a monthly savings of over $300.
| Compare Trulance prices to related drugs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Trulance | $773 per 30, 3 mg tablets | $470 per 30, 3 mg tablets of brand-name Trulance | See latest prices |
| Linzess | $693 per 30, 145 mcg capsules | $448 per 30, 145 mcg capsules of brand-name Linzess | See latest prices |
| Amitiza | $471 per 60, 24 mcg capsules | $105 per 60, 24 mcg capsules of brand-name Amitiza | See latest prices |
| Motegrity | $686 per 30 tablets | $500 per 30 tablets of brand-name Motegrity | See latest prices |
| Miralax | $17 per 1, 510 gm bottle | $5 per 1, 510 gm bottle of brand-name Miralax | See latest prices |
| Docusate | $9 per 100 capsules | $3 per 100 capsules of generic docusate | 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 Trulance without insurance
At a monthly cost of $770, Trulance prices may be challenging without insurance coverage. Some people could save money through Bausch Health’s patient assistance program or the occasional rebate, but these aren’t certain. Many people may be unable to meet the stringent eligibility criteria for patient assistance, and rebates are uncommon. Another common way to save money is to buy a 90-day supply. Unfortunately, that usually doesn’t work with premium-priced brand-name drugs. Trulance is no exception. However, a few more successful strategies exist, starting with a SingleCare savings card.
1. Use a free Trulance coupon from SingleCare
With a SingleCare discount card, a Trulance prescription can be filled for as little as $470, $300 off the average retail price. Discount prices will vary by participating pharmacy, so browse available discounts by visiting SingleCare’s Trulance coupons page.
2. Shop for the lowest retail price
Prescription medication price-shopping is not a strategy most people know, but the retail prices between pharmacies can vary dramatically. The is $150 less than the average cash price.
3. Ask the prescriber about lubiprostone
Lubiprostone works much like Trulance by stimulating the intestines to secrete more water. Although only available as a brand-name drug (Amitizia), the retail price is more than $300 lower. With a SingleCare savings card, a 30-day supply of Amitizia can cost as little as $100.
4. Look into Medicaid
If the cost of Trulance and health insurance are prohibitive, consider getting Medicaid or Medicare Low Income Subsidy. Premiums and drug costs are minimal. Check your state’s Medicaid website for program eligibility requirements and enrollment information.
5. Talk to a healthcare professional or nutritionist about dietary changes
If dietary changes haven’t been tried, get help from a healthcare provider or nutritionist. Several dietary regimens have proven effective at reducing IBS symptoms and may help with chronic constipation. Reducing bowel irritation may make premium-priced medications less necessary to resolve bowel movement problems.
6. Switch to over-the-counter gentle laxatives
Ask the prescribing healthcare provider for medical advice about using OTC gentle laxatives such as docusate, dulcolax, or PEG-3350. It’s likely they’ve been tried and failed to relieve the constipation. However, if one hasn’t been tried, it may be a workable substitute for higher-priced prescription medications.