The price you pay for Xenazine may depend on factors such as whether you have health insurance and the pharmacy you use. Financial assistance may be available to help with the cost of this medication.

Xenazine (tetrabenazine) is a prescription drug used to treat chorea, a movement disorder that can occur in people with Huntington’s disease. Xenazine comes as an oral tablet in two strengths: 12.5 milligrams (mg) and 25 mg.

Several factors can affect the price you’ll pay for Xenazine. These include:

  • your dosage and treatment plan
  • your insurance coverage
  • the pharmacy you use
  • available financial assistance for Xenazine (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section)

To find out your cost for Xenazine, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Xenazine is available as the generic drug tetrabenazine. A generic contains 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 but tends to cost less.

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

If you’ve been prescribed Xenazine and you’re interested in trying tetrabenazine instead, talk with your doctor. They may recommend that you take 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 Xenazine long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:

  • Look into getting a 90-day supply: You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Xenazine if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of the drug. If you’re interested in a 90-day supply of Xenazine, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
  • Use a mail-order pharmacy: Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Xenazine. 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 financial support to pay for Xenazine or help understanding your insurance coverage, assistance is available. For example:

  • The Xenazine Copay Assistance Program is available for this medication. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 888-882-6013 or visit the program website.
  • For details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services, check out the following websites:

You may want to consider the following information if you have insurance and take Xenazine.

If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Xenazine. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss the drug in regard to your treatment. Your insurance company will then determine whether Xenazine is covered.

If a drug requires prior authorization, but you start treatment without prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether Xenazine 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.