Azithromycin and Cost: Generic, Brand Names, and More - Healthline

If you're looking at treatment options for certain bacterial infections, you may want to learn more about azithromycin (Zithromax).

Azithromycin is a generic prescription drug that's used to treat certain bacterial infections in adults and some children.

Azithromycin comes in several forms:

• tablet or capsule that you take by mouth
• suspension (a type of liquid mixture) that you take by mouth
• liquid solution that's given as an injection into a vein of your arm

For a general overview of azithromycin, including a full list of conditions it's used to treat, see this in-depth article.

Azithromycin belongs to a group of drugs called macrolide antibiotics. It works to treat the bacterial infection.

Azithromycin is available as the brand-name drug Zithromax.

Keep reading for details on azithromycin and cost, and how to save money on prescriptions.

The price you pay for azithromycin can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use. If you receive the injectable form of azithromycin, the cost may also depend on how much you pay for an office visit to receive the drug.

To find out how much you'll pay for azithromycin, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

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

Does the price of azithromycin tablets depend on the strength I use (250 mg or 500 mg)?

Yes, the price of azithromycin may depend on the strength you take. It may also depend on the form you use. Azithromycin is available in the following forms:

• tablet or capsule that you take by mouth
• suspension (a type of liquid mixture) that you take by mouth
• liquid solution that's given as an injection into a vein of your arm
• eyedrop

If you have insurance, the cost of your medication may depend on your insurance coverage. For more information on the cost of azithromycin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If I don't have insurance, how much will azithromycin cost me?

Your cost without insurance depends on your pharmacy, as well as the strength and form of azithromycin that you use. If you have concerns about paying for the cost of your azithromycin prescription, see the "Can I get help paying for azithromycin?" section below.

You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacy about the cost of azithromycin. They should be able to give you a price estimate.

Azithromycin is a generic drug that's also available as the brand-name drug Zithromax. 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.

An eyedrop form of azithromycin comes as the brand-name drug Azasite. The eye drops are not available as a generic drug, however.

To find out how the costs of azithromycin and the brand-name drugs compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If your doctor has prescribed azithromycin and you're interested in using a brand-name drug 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.

In some cases, azithromycin may be used long term. However, in most cases, people will only take azithromycin short-term to treat an infection. If you take azithromycin 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 azithromycin if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of azithromycin. If you're interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor or insurance provider.
  
• Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for azithromycin. 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 azithromycin 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 azithromycin, you may also want to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you still have questions about the cost of azithromycin, 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 cost you'd pay for azithromycin.

Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:

• Are there other, more affordable medications I could take to treat my condition?
• Will the azithromycin oral tablet or oral suspension be cheaper for me?
• Would a different strength of azithromycin be more affordable for me?

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.