If you’re looking at treatment options for certain types of fungal infections, you may want to learn more about fluconazole (Diflucan).
Fluconazole is a generic prescription drug used in adults and some children to:
- treat and prevent candidiasis, such as vaginal yeast infections and thrush
- treat a kind of fungal meningitis
Fluconazole comes as a tablet and a suspension (a type of liquid mixture) that you swallow. These forms are available as the brand-name drug Diflucan. Fluconazole also comes as a liquid that’s given as an IV infusion (an injection into a vein over a period of time). The IV infusion form is given by your doctor or another healthcare professional.
Fluconazole belongs to a group of drugs called triazole antifungals.
Keep reading for details on fluconazole, its cost, and how to save money on prescriptions.
Note: For more details on fluconazole tablets, see this in-depth article.
The price you pay for fluconazole can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use. It’ll also depend on how much you have to pay for a visit with your doctor or a hospital to receive injectable fluconazole.
To find out how much you’ll pay for fluconazole, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Note: If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover fluconazole. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Fluconazole in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If fluconazole 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 fluconazole requires prior authorization.
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Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about fluconazole and its cost.
Does fluconazole come as a cream or syrup? If so, how much do these forms of the drug cost?
No, fluconazole does not come as a cream or syrup. But it does come as a liquid suspension that you swallow. The suspension is also available as the brand-name drug Diflucan.
Your cost for the fluconazole liquid suspension can vary depending on the pharmacy you use, your dosage, and your insurance coverage (if you have it). A higher strength of fluconazole suspension usually costs more than the lower strength suspension.
If you have questions about your specific cost of fluconazole, talk with your doctor.
What’s the price of fluconazole tablets (50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg)?
The price of fluconazole tablets can vary. It’s possible that the higher-strength tablets of fluconazole cost more than the lower strengths. The price for fluconazole tablets can also vary depending on the pharmacy you use.
To find out the exact cost of your dosage of fluconazole, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
For more details on fluconazole’s dosages, see this in-depth article.
How much does fluconazole cost without insurance?
Prescription drugs usually cost less with insurance coverage. But if you don’t have insurance, your cost will depend on certain factors, such as:
- the pharmacy you use
- your dosage and treatment plan
- the form of the drug you’re prescribed
- whether you take your dose at home or receive it in a healthcare facility
To learn what you’ll pay for fluconazole without insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
For resources that could help you save on the cost of fluconazole, see the “Can I get help paying for fluconazole?” section below.
Fluconazole is a generic drug. This means it’s an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics generally cost less than brand-name drugs.
Fluconazole comes in a brand-name version called Diflucan. To find out how the costs of Diflucan and Fluconazole compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If you’ve been prescribed fluconazole and you’re interested in using Diflucan instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you take one version instead of 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.
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 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.
Fluconazole may be taken either short term or long term. If you take fluconazole 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 fluconazole if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of fluconazole. If you’re interested in getting 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 of fluconazole. 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 fluconazole or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:
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 to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you still have questions about the cost of fluconazole, 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 with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for fluconazole.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
- If I can’t afford my medication, what are my options?
- Do the different forms of fluconazole vary in price?
- Are there any other lower cost drugs that can treat my condition?
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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.
