If you have a certain type of parasitic infection, your doctor may suggest treatment with albendazole (Albenza). As a result, you may want to find out more about this drug. This includes information about price.
Albendazole is a generic prescription drug that’s used to treat parasitic infections caused by:
- the Taenia solium tapeworm
- the Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm
For these purposes, albendazole is used in adults and some children. It belongs to a group of drugs called benzimidazole anthelmintics.
The drug comes as tablets that you’ll swallow by mouth.
Keep reading for details on albendazole and price, and how to save money on prescriptions.
Note: For more details on albendazole, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The price you pay for albendazole can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, your location, and the pharmacy you use.
To find out how much you’ll pay for albendazole, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about albendazole and price.
Why is albendazole so expensive?
Albendazole is a generic version of the brand-name drug Albenza. The drug is used to treat certain tapeworm infections in humans.
Albendazole has a very specific purpose: It treats certain infections that are rare in the United States. This can make the price of the brand-name drug higher than the generic since it’s not prescribed very often.
Because the infections are rare, a limited number of manufacturers are making a generic version of the drug. With other medications, competition from multiple manufacturers can reduce a generic drug’s price.
For more information about the price of albendazole, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
What is the price difference between 200-mg and 400-mg tablets of albendazole?
Albendazole tablets are only available in one strength: 200 milligrams (mg). They’re not available in a strength of 400 mg.
But the dosage of albendazole can vary depending on the condition being treated as well as a person’s body weight. So you might need to take more than one tablet each day based on the dosage your doctor prescribes.
Your price for albendazole may be different depending on your dosage, how long you need to take the drug, and if you have insurance.
For specifics about how much the albendazole dosage your doctor recommends for you may cost, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is the syrup form of albendazole cheaper than the tablets?
There is no ready-made syrup form of albendazole commercially available in the United States.
If you have trouble taking albendazole tablets, this article has several tips for swallowing tablets whole.
If you’re still having problems taking this drug, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend a compounding pharmacy. This type of pharmacy can make a liquid suspension of albendazole that’s easier for you to take.
Keep in mind that a liquid suspension may cost you more because it’s prepared specially for you. And it’s often not covered by insurance.
Albendazole comes in a brand-name version called Albenza. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. The generic is considered to be just as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.
To find out how the prices of Albenza and albendazole compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If your doctor has prescribed albendazole and you’re interested in using Albenza instead, talk with your doctor. They may have a preference for one version or the other. In addition, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider. This is because it may only cover one drug or the other.
If you need help covering the price of albendazole or understanding your insurance, check out these websites:
On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.
If you have questions about how you can pay for albendazole, you may also want to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you still have questions about the price of albendazole, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk to your insurance provider to learn the actual price you’d pay for albendazole.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
- Will my dosage of albendazole and how long I take it affect its price?
- What are my options if I can’t afford albendazole?
- Are there other treatments for my condition that are less expensive?
Disclaimer: Healthline 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.
