Unraveling the Mystery: Why Is Dexilant So Expensive?

Did you know that roughly 65% of Americans use at least one prescription each year? This number may sound high, but the real shock comes when you consider the price of some medications.

A question that keeps many Americans up at night is, “Can I afford my next prescription?”

Unfortunately, Americans do have a right to worry because medication prices can add up. In fact, there is one drug on the market today that has developed a particular reputation for its steep costs.

Its name is Dexilant.

Dexilant has been around for over a decade; it first broke into the market in June of 2009. Ever since then, it has been a valuable asset for the healthcare industry.

Instead of costs for Dexilant remaining fairly consistent, the drug has had a price incline. Buyers have questioned the price of Dexilant and are often querying why Dexilant costs so much.

Of course, it does have its benefits, and it has helped patients with their healthcare needs, but does that warrant the price increase?

Over the next few short minutes, we’re going to examine why Dexilant’s price has skyrocketed and what you can do about it. Read on to discover more.

What Is Dexilant Used for and How Does It Work?

If you are reading this and you are unsure what Dexilant is, let’s catch you up to speed. Dexilant is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It’s used to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and stomach problems.

Many of the conditions Dexilant treats come with some pretty uncomfortable side effects. Some of these side effects include persistent coughs, heartburn, and difficulty swallowing.

When left untreated, these side effects can cause long-term discomfort. So naturally, there was a need for a drug to help ease symptom control. This is where Dexilant comes in.

Its effectiveness makes it a popular medication among healthcare professionals.

The medication helps to relieve symptoms by reducing acid in the stomach, and it even helps heal acid damage. However, Dexilant side effects can include stomach pain, common colds, diarrhea, and vomiting.

How Much Does Dexilant Cost in the United States?

Within the United States, the cost of Dexilant may vary depending on the medical dispenser. One thing each medical dispenser has in common is that they charge you some pretty expensive bills for this medication.

If you were to buy Dexilant in the United States today, it would cost somewhere in the region of $300 for a supply of 30 capsules. There is no difference in price between the 30mg and 60mg doses, but the quantity you buy may slightly affect prices.

For example, for 90 capsules of Dexilant in the USA, it will cost you roughly $975. Unit-wise, there is a small gap in price. 30 capsules work out at roughly $12 per unit, and 90 capsules work out at around $11 per unit.

While there isn’t a huge gap in overall pricing, if you were to buy a large quantity of Dexilant, you may see some small savings. Considering prices are particularly high, this may benefit you in the long run.

Why Did the Price of Dexilant Increase?

To answer this, we must first look at pharmaceutical market behavior. When competitor drugs enter the market, pharmaceutical companies tend to start bumping up prices.

This can cause fierce competition between pharmaceutical companies, but ultimately, it’s the patient who ends up paying the price.

In January of 2021, the average price for Dexilant increased by around 6%, jumping up to an average of $12.30 per unit. This was almost a $1 increase per unit.

Why Is Dexilant So Expensive?

Dexilant is its own company and its own brand. There may be companies that do sell Dexilant, but the Dexilant pharmaceutical company is the direct supplier.

While there are some alternatives like Lansoprazole and Omeprazole, it doesn’t technically have a rival in terms of price. This is because no one but the Dexilant pharmaceutical company actually makes it.

Essentially, this means that the pharmaceutical company can charge whatever price it believes people will pay for it.

However, just because Dexilant comes with a costly price tag, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to pay that much for it.

Ways to Reduce Prescription Costs

One thing is for certain; there are many people out there who simply do not pay the full price for Dexilant. They don’t do this by cheating the healthcare system or stealing either. In fact, there are genuine ways to reduce costs.

To save money on Dexilant, you don’t have to do anything crazy. You simply use the resources available.

Here are a few of the ways you may be able to save money on Dexilant.

Some pharmaceutical companies can provide a drug savings card. Companies like innoviCares in Canada will allow you to sign up for a savings card free. Then it’s just a matter of taking this card to your local pharmacy and buying the medication.

Another way you can save on Dexilant is by buying cheap alternatives. Not every stomach or oesophageal medical condition needs to be treated by Dexilant. In fact, there are quite a few alternatives to this medication.

For example, drugs like Omeprazole and Lansoprazole can help with many conditions that Dexilant helps treat. You can even get Omeprazole from some companies for as little as $3.00.

These are huge savings when you compare the price of Omeprazole against the price of Dexilant, which is over $300 for just 30 capsules.

You can also reduce Dexilant costs by using medical insurance. Many medical insurance plans will actually pay for your prescriptions, meaning you can save on your overall costs.

Aside from medical insurance, you can simply use coupons to increase your savings on this medication. While there is no guarantee that coupons will be readily available, many people benefit from this method.

The Best Prescription Dexilant Alternatives

If you’re wondering, “Why is Dexilant so expensive?” you may be looking for alternatives. The following drugs are two cheap prescriptions on the market that rival the price of Dexilant but offer the same benefits:

1. Protonix
2. Prevacid

Learn about these Dexilant alternatives and how much they cost below. 

Protonix

Protonix (pantoprazole) is a prescription proton pump inhibitor your doctor may recommend if Dexilant is too expensive for you. Like Dexilant, this drug can treat erosive esophagitis due to GERD.

However, Protonix can come with side effects in addition to the common GI complaints Dexilant causes. This PPI may also cause headaches, dizziness, abnormal liver function, and joint pain.

The good news is that Protonix is more affordable than Dexilant. According to Rx Savings Solutions, this medication ranges in price from $18 to $113 for a monthly supply. Its generic alternative, pantoprazole, can help you save even more money on your prescription medication.

Prevacid

Prevacid (lansoprazole) is also a prescription PPI that may be used instead of Dexilant. It also has a variety of other uses, which may be beneficial for people dealing with co-occurring digestive complaints.

Another benefit of Prevacid is that it has fewer side effects. The most common symptoms people experience after using this drug are headache and alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea.

Like generic dexlansoprazole and Protonix, Prevacid is more affordable than Dexilant. Rx Savings Solutions reports that a monthly supply can cost as little as $56. You can save even more money with generic Prevacid (lansoprazole).

Over-the-Counter Dexilant Alternatives

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are also available as alternatives to Dexilant. OTCs are drugs that you can purchase at CVS or anywhere else you buy your over-the-counter products. Some of the best ones include:

• Prilosec (omeprazole)
• Nexium (esomeprazole)
• Pepcid (famotidine)

We’ll tell you more about these OTC products and their prices below.

Prilosec

Prilosec (omeprazole) can treat the same conditions as Dexilant. It may also benefit the symptoms of H.pylori and heal benign gastric ulcers.

This OTC drug is one of the most affordable alternatives to Dexilant. It can cost as little as $12 for a monthly supply, according to Rx Savings Solutions.

Nexium

Nexium is an OTC proton pump inhibitor that can treat conditions indicated for Dexilant. Additionally, it can help with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and H.pylori.

Rx Savings Solutions has found that this medication costs less than $50 for a full month’s supply, offering significant savings for current Dexilant users.

Pepcid

Pepcid (famotidine) is another excellent OTC alternative to Dexilant. Though it’s not a PPI, it can treat the same symptoms as Dexilant.

This OTC drug is also available as a prescription. Even then, you can save money on your medication since HelpAdvisor reports that prescription famotidine is only $7 to $79 per month.

Natural Alternatives to Dexilant

If you want to know, “Why is Dexilant so expensive?” you may be considering quitting your prescription. However, unless your doctor recommends it, you should never stop your prescription for a natural alternative.

Natural alternatives may not be enough to replace your medication. Talk to your doctor about the right treatment regimen for your symptoms and recommend natural remedies that are safe to use with your current medications.

Save Money on Dexilant Today

After learning about Dexilant, you now have a better idea of why this medication is so expensive. Of course, it doesn’t mean the overall price will budge. However, it does clarify a little bit more about why pricing is so high and what you can do about it.

We always aim to give you a useful and informative rundown of the latest medical information. We also appreciate that healthcare and prescription costs can really be a burden.

So if you would like to save money on Dexilant today without paying inflated market prices, then order your prescription now. ‘