Medicaid Drug Cost Comparisons
According to recent Medicaid data, prescription expenditures continue to rise. It is important for prescribers to keep in mind that brand name medications are significantly more expensive than generic medications. By making the effort to prescribe generic medications when it would be therapeutically neutral for the patient, physicians can help keep unnecessary expenses down without sacrificing quality of care. This table provides cost comparisons between brand and generic drugs within selected drug categories as well as highlights which drug products will be available in generic soon.
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| Drug Name | Daily Dose |
AWP Cost* |
Generic Cost** |
Savings |
| HMG-CoA Enzyme Inhibitors | ||||
| Crestor® 20mg (rosuvastatin) |
QD | $79 | NA | |
| Lescol® 20mg (fluvastatin) | QD | $56 | NA | |
| Lipitor® 20mg (atorvastatin) |
QD | $109 | NA | |
| Mevacor® 20mg (lovastatin) |
QD | $79 | $38 | $41 |
| Pravachol® 20mg (pravastatin) |
QD | $92 | NA | |
| Zocor® 20mg (simvastatin) | QD | $138 | NA | |
| Drug Name | Daily Dose |
AWP Cost* | Generic Cost** | Savings |
| H2 Antagonists | ||||
| Axid® 300mg (nizatidine) |
QD | $180 | $110 | $70 |
| Pepcid ® 40mg (famotidine) |
QD | $80 | $5 | $75 |
| Tagamet® 300mg (cimetidine) |
BID | $123 | $16 | $107 |
| Zantac® 300mg (ranitidine) | QD | $112 | $10 | $102 |
| Drug Name | Daily Dose |
AWP Cost* | Generic Cost** | Savings |
| Proton Pump Inhibitors | ||||
| Aciphex® 20mg (rabeprazole) |
QD | $134 | NA | |
| Nexium® 20mg (esomeprazole) |
QD | $137 | NA | |
| Prevacid® 30mg (lansoprazole) |
QD | $143 | NA | |
| Prilosec® 20mg (omeprazole) |
QD | $120 | Available OTC | |
| Protonix® 40mg (pantoprazole) | QD | $109 | NA | |
| Drug Name | Daily Dose |
AWP Cost* | Generic Cost** | Savings |
| Non-sedating Antihistamines | ||||
| Allegra® 180mg (fexofenadine) |
QD | $74 | NA | |
| Claritin® 10mg (loratadine) |
QD | $31 | Available OTC | |
| Clarinex® 5mg (desloratadine) |
QD | $73 | NA | |
| Zyrtec® 10mg (cetirizine) | QD | $63 | NA | |
| Drug Name | Daily Dose |
AWP Cost* | Generic Cost** | Savings |
| Diabetes Medications | ||||
| Actos® 30mg (pioglitazone) |
QD | $166 | NA | |
| Amaryl® 2mg (glimepiride) |
BID | $32 | NA | |
| Avandia® 4mg (rosiglitazone) |
QD | $174 | NA | |
| Avandamet® 4/500 (rosiglitazone/metformin) |
BID | $165 | NA | |
| Diabeta® 5mg (glyburide) |
BID | $46 | $11 | $35 |
| Glucophage® 500mg (metformin) |
BID | $49 | $17 | $32 |
| Glucophage XR® 500mg (metformin) |
QD | $25 | Coming Soon | |
| Glucotrol® 10mg (glipizide) |
BID | $49 | $6 | $43 |
| Glucotrol XL® 10mg (glipizide) |
QD | $64 | Coming Soon | |
| Glucovance ® 5/500 (glyburide/metformin) |
BID | 64 | Coming Soon | |
| Drug Name | Daily Dose |
AWP Cost* | Generic Cost** | Savings |
| Antidepressants | ||||
| Celexa® 20mg (citalopram) |
QD | $75 | NA | |
| Desyrel® 50mg (trazodone) |
BID | $131 | $4 | $127 |
| Elavil® 50mg (amitriptyline) |
QD | $29 | $2 | $27 |
| Pamelor® 50mg (nortriptyline) |
QD | $241 | $5 | $236 |
| Paxil® 20mg (paroxetine) |
QD | $88 | NA | |
| Prozac® 20mg (fluoxetine) |
QD | $112 | $18 | $94 |
| Tofranil® 50mg (imipramine) |
QD | $102 | $14 | $88 |
| Wellbutrin SR® 150mg (buproprion) |
BID | $121 | NA | |
| Zoloft® 50mg (sertraline) | QD | $82 | NA | |
| Drug Name | Daily Dose |
AWP Cost* | Generic Cost** | Savings |
| ACE Inhibitors | ||||
| Accupril® 20mg (quinapril) |
QD | $38 | Coming Soon | |
| Capoten® 25mg (captopril) |
BID | $76 | $3 | $73 |
| Monopril® 20mg (fosinopril) |
QD | $40 | Coming Soon | |
| Prinivil® 20mg (lisinopril)† |
QD | $36 | $19 | $17 |
| Vasotec® 10mg (enalapril) |
QD | $38 | $7 | $31 |
| Zestril® 20mg (lisinopril)† | QD | $37 | $19 | $18 |
| Drug Name | Daily Dose |
AWP Cost* | Generic Cost** | Savings |
| Beta-Blockers | ||||
| Corgard® 20mg (nadolol) |
QD | $53 | $14 | $39 |
| Inderal® 40mg (propranolol) |
BID | $51 | $5 | $46 |
| Lopressor® 50mg (metoprolol) |
BID | $61 | $4 | $57 |
| Tenormin® 50mg (atenolol) |
QD | $40 | $3 | $37 |
| Toprol XL® 100mg (metoprolol) | QD | $33 | NA | |
| Calcium-Channel Blockers: Dihydropyridines | ||||
| Adalat CC®60mg (nifedipine ext. rel.) | QD |
$80 | $54 | $26 |
| Norvasc® 5mg (amlodipine) |
QD | $47 | NA | |
| Plendil® 5mg (felodipine) |
QD | $38 | Coming Soon | |
| Procardia XL® 60mg (nifedipine ext. rel.) |
QD | $94 | $54 | $40 |
| Sular® 20mg (nisoldipine) | QD | $40 | NA | |
| Calcium-Channel Blockers: Non-Dihydropyridines | ||||
| Cardizem CD® 180mg (diltiazem ext. rel.) |
QD | $55 | $32 | $23 |
| Dilacor XR® 180mg (diltiazem ext. rel.) |
QD | $52 | $17 | $35 |
| Tiazac® 180mg (diltiazem ext. rel.) | QD | $41 | NA | |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder | ||||
| Adderal® 5/10/20/30mg (amphetamine mixed salts) |
BID | $102 | $60 | $42 |
| Concerta® 18mg (methylphenidate ext. rel.) |
QD | $84 | NA | |
| Ritalin® 10mg (methylphenidate) |
BID | $43 | $25 | $18 |
| Strattera® 25mg (atomoxetine) | QD | $94 | NA | |
| Antibiotics | ||||
| Amoxil® 250mg capsule (amoxicillin) |
TID for 10 days |
$6 | $2 | $4 |
| Augmentin® tablet 250/125mg (amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium) |
TID for 10 days | $89 |
Available Does not have MAC price yet |
|
| Biaxin® 250mg tablet (clarithromycin) |
BID for 10 days |
$88 | NA | |
| Ceclor® 250mg capsule (cefaclor) |
TID for 10 days |
$70 | $20 | $50 |
| Cefzil® 250mg tablet (cefprozil) |
BID for 10 days |
$89 | NA | |
| Zithromax® 500mg Tri-pak (azithromycin) | QD for 3 days |
$47 | NA | |
* Based on AWP ingredient cost for 30-day supply as of 9/22/03.
** Based on Medicaid’s Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC) for 30-day supply
as of 9/22/03, except for antibiotics.
NA=Not available