Butrans (buprenorphine) is a prescription drug used to treat severe, ongoing pain that requires daily medication. Butrans’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.

The price you pay for Butrans can vary. To find out how much you’ll pay for Butrans, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or check out the section below to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.

To save money on your Butrans prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.

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Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Butrans and cost.

How much does the Butrans patch 20 micrograms cost without insurance?

What you’ll pay for any strength of Butrans without insurance depends on several factors. Generally, your cost will be higher without insurance than with it.

Factors that could affect your cost include:

  • your treatment plan and dosage
  • whether you qualify and apply for any savings programs
  • the pharmacy you use
  • the days’ supply of medication you receive (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)

To find out the exact cost of Butrans without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Also, you may want to check with a few pharmacies to compare prices.

You can also visit Optum Perks to get price estimates for Butrans when you use coupons from the site. (Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.) It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Is there a Butrans patch financial assistance program or manufacturer coupon?

No, there isn’t a Butrans financial assistance program or manufacturer coupon. If you need help paying for your prescription, you can visit Optum Perks to get price estimates for Butrans when you use coupons from the site. (Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.) It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

You can also check out the resources listed above in the “Can I get help paying for Butrans?” section.

How does the price of Butrans compare with the price of buprenorphine tablets?

The cost of Butrans compared with the cost of buprenorphine tablets can depend on several factors. For example, because Butrans comes in a different form than buprenorphine tablets, the form may affect the cost.

Other factors that may affect how much you pay include:

  • whether there are any savings programs available for the drug you’re prescribed
  • whether you have insurance or are paying out of pocket
  • how long your treatment lasts

If you have questions about the cost of Butrans compared with the cost of similar medications, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They can share more details on treatment costs based on your specific situation.

Butrans is available as the generic drug buprenorphine. A generic drug contains an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original drug but tends to cost less.

To find out how the costs of Butrans and buprenorphine compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed Butrans and you’re interested in trying buprenorphine instead, talk with your doctor. They may recommend that you use one version instead of the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as it may only cover one drug or the other.

Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?

Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug exclusively for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.

If you take Butrans long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:

Look into getting a 90-day supply of your medication: You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Butrans if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Butrans. If you’re interested in a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication: Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Butrans. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug through 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 help covering the cost of Butrans or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:

On these pages, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover Butrans. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Butrans in regard to your treatment. Then, the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Butrans requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.

Be sure to ask your insurance company whether Butrans requires prior authorization.

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.