Buprenorphine is a generic drug prescribed to manage pain and opioid use disorder. It’s available as the brand-name drugs Sublocade, Butrans, and others. The cost of buprenorphine, with and without insurance, can depend on several factors, such as the drug form and whether there’s a coupon.
As with all medications, the cost of buprenorphine can vary. Factors that may affect the price for generic buprenorphine you’ll pay include:
- your treatment plan
- your insurance coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- the form of the drug your doctor prescribes
- the cost of healthcare visits to receive doses of buprenorphine in injectable forms (see the “Generic vs. brand-name drugs” section)
- whether buprenorphine has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section)
To find out what the cost of buprenorphine will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. This section also has information about how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.
Buprenorphine coupons and savings
To save money on your prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons for buprenorphine patch.
Buprenorphine is a generic drug, which means it’s an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. A generic drug is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.
Certain forms of buprenorphine are available as brand-name drugs. Some of these forms are also available as a generic version. This table shows available generic and brand-name versions of the following forms of buprenorphine:
* With extended release, the drug releases slowly into your body over time.
If your doctor has prescribed buprenorphine and you’re interested in trying a brand-name drug instead, talk with your doctor. They may have a preference for one version or the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as it may only cover one or the other.
To find out how the cost of this brand-name drug compares with the cost of buprenorphine, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If you take buprenorphine long term, you may be able to lower its cost in the following ways.
Getting a 3-month supply
You may be able to get a 90-day supply of buprenorphine. If approved by your insurance company, getting a 90-day supply of the drug could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost. If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Using a mail-order pharmacy
Buprenorphine may be available through a mail-order pharmacy. Using this type of service may help lower the drug’s cost and allow you to receive your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug via mail order.
If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.
If you need financial support to pay for buprenorphine, consider looking into websites that offer cost resources and information. Two such websites are:
These sites can provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and buprenorphine.
How much does buprenorphine cost without insurance?
The price you’ll pay for buprenorphine if you don’t have insurance can vary based on several factors. But typically, the cost is higher for those without insurance.
There are other factors that could affect what you pay for this drug. These include:
- the quantity you’re prescribed (such as a 90-day or 30-day supply)
- whether you apply and qualify for any available savings programs
- your dosage
- the pharmacy you use
- the form of the drug you’re prescribed (such as buprenorphine patch, tablet, or injection)
- whether you use a coupon for buprenorphine
To learn the exact cost you’d pay for this medication without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you’re prescribed buprenorphine patch or tablet, you may also want to contact several pharmacies to compare their prices for buprenorphine.
Check out Optum Perks for price estimates of buprenorphine patch when using coupons from the site. Note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance benefits or copays.
Note: Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.
Does the price of buprenorphine vary depending on the drug’s strength?
It’s possible, but the cost of different strengths of buprenorphine also depends on the form. For example, the cost of buprenorphine 8-milligram (mg) sublingual tablets is different from the cost of a comparable dose of buprenorphine patch. Other factors that can affect the price you’ll pay include your insurance coverage and the pharmacy you use.
To determine the cost of a certain strength of buprenorphine, talk with your insurance provider. If you don‘t have or use insurance, talk with your doctor. You can also refer to the question just above about how much buprenorphine costs without insurance.
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You may want to consider the following information if you have insurance and receive buprenorphine.
Prior authorization: If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers buprenorphine. This means the company and your doctor will discuss buprenorphine in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered. If a drug requires prior authorization, but you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether buprenorphine requires prior authorization.
Type of insurance coverage: The injectable form of buprenorphine is given by your doctor or another healthcare professional. If you have insurance, the price of your buprenorphine doses may be billed through your medical coverage instead of the prescription drug portion of your insurance plan. This depends on your specific insurance plan and where you receive your buprenorphine doses, such as at your doctor’s office, an infusion clinic, or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.