How Much Does Accutane Cost?
Accutane, a prescription-based medicine designed to help treat severe cases of acne that do not respond well to other therapy options, is available in multiple generic versions and tends to be the most popular choice for acne suffers.
Most doctors will only prescribe this medication when all other medicines and treatment options have failed.
How much does Accutane cost?
Before we get into the costs of the generic options, Accutane is no longer available as the manufacturer discontinued the drug as of 2009.
The costs of Accutane, as with any prescription-based medication, will depend on a few factors, such as your health insurance policy, the pharmacy you choose, the dosage/quantity prescribed and which option you want, seeing there are multiple generic versions available, at the time of purchase. From our research via multiple sources online, we found the average cost, without any health insurance, to be in the $150 to $250 per 30 capsules, regardless of its dosage or brand. With the average dosage being twice a day, it’s best to budget about $300 to $450 per month, with the average patient needing six months of medication to see results.
Remember, these prices will not include your initial and follow-up doctor visits to track your progress, with most visits averaging about close to $125~ per visit.
With a variety of generic options available, we broke down the costs we found online in the table below:
| Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Accutane is no longer available and has been discontinued by the manufacturer | |
| Sotret, a generic version, is no longer available and has been discontinued by the manufacturer | |
| Claravis (generic) | - 10 mg: $160 for 30 capsules or $480 for 90 - 20 mg: $160 for 30 capsules or $465 for 90 - 30 mg: $250 for 30 capsules or $725 for 90 - 40 mg: $160 for 30 capsules or $525 for 90 |
| Amnesteem (generic) | - 10 mg: $160 for 30 capsules or $480 for 90 - 20 mg: $160 for 30 capsules or $465 for 90 - 40 mg: $180 for 30 capsules or $525 for 90 |
| Myorisan (generic) | - 10 mg: $160 for 30 capsules or $480 for 90 - 20 mg: $160 for 30 capsules or $465 for 90 - 30 mg: $250 for 30 capsules or $460 for 90 - 40 mg: $180 for 30 capsules or $525 for 90 |
| Zenatane (generic) | - 10 mg: $160 for 30 capsules or $480 for 90 - 20 mg: $160 for 30 capsules or $465 for 90 - 30 mg: $250 for 30 capsules or $460 for 90 - 40 mg: $180 for 30 capsules or $525 for 90 |
As for the coverage in terms of health insurance, it is often covered as long as the acne is considered to be severe, cystic or the acne has not improved via other treatment methods. But this is not always the case, however, as health insurance companies do greatly vary as to what they will and will not cover. To be certain, either look at your health insurance company’s online drug cost database, talk with the company directly or talk with your local pharmacy to know what costs you will be responsible for. As mentioned, many insurance companies will have protocols before they consider approving this type of medication.
The reported costs on Realself.com, for example, was an average price of $650, with more than 91% of the 750+ reviewers saying it was “worth it.”
Accutane overview
Accutane ingredients include isotretinoin as its active ingredient and beeswax, butylated hydroxyanisole, edetate disodium, hydrogenated soybean oil flakes, hydrogenated vegetable oil, and soybean oil as its inactive ingredient. The gelatin capsules will contain glycerin and parabens, with the following dye: iron oxide (red) and titanium dioxide in the 10 mg; FD&C Red No. 3, FD&C Blue No. 1, and titanium dioxide in the 20 mg; and FD&C Yellow No. 6, D&C Yellow No. 10, and titanium dioxide in 40 mg.
The capsule must be swallowed whole with a full glass of water and its generic products should be taken with food unless otherwise noted by your doctor. As with any medication, follow the medication guide and your doctor’s directions closely, meaning never more, less or stop taking the medication without first consulting with your doctor. Doing so can greatly increase your chances of side effects.
Dosing amounts will greatly vary depending on the individual patient and the strength of the medicine, but for most, it will be determined by the patient’s body weight, usually, 0.5 to one milligram per kilogram of body weight, divided and then administered as two doses.
Common Accutane side effects
All prescription drugs will have some sort of side effect, with Accutane being no different. Commonly reported side effects include dry mouth, crusty skin, an upset stomach, nosebleeds, hair thinning, eye irritation or even bone pain. As always, if you feel any of these side effects, talk with your doctor immediately for your next course of action. For a full list of side effects, we recommend you check out this WebMD.com guide.
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Average Reported Cost: $0
