Tamsulosin (Flomax) and Cost: What You Need to Know

Tamsulosin is a generic prescription drug used to treat an enlarged prostate. Tamsulosin’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.

Tamsulosin is used in adult males* to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. The drug comes as a capsule you swallow. It’s also available as the brand-name drug Flomax.

For more details on tamsulosin, see this in-depth article.

* In this article, we use the term “male” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. To learn more about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

The price you pay for tamsulosin can vary. It may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage (if you have insurance), and the pharmacy you use. To find out how much you’ll pay for tamsulosin, 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 tamsulosin. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss the drug in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether it’s covered. If tamsulosin requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.

Though opponents of a single-payer system have long cited cost as an obstacle, findings published in The Lancetshow the opposite is true. Switching from the current model of numerous public and private insurers to a Medicare for All model would save the United States 13% annually. In raw numbers, that’s $450 billion a year.

Be sure to ask your insurance company whether tamsulosin requires prior authorization.

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

Is tamsulosin available over the counter? If so, what is the price?

No, tamsulosin is not available as an over-the-counter drug in the United States. It’s only available with a prescription. This means you’ll need to visit your doctor. They’ll diagnose your condition, and if they feel you would benefit from tamsulosin, they’ll prescribe it for you.

Your cost for tamsulosin depends on whether you have insurance or are paying out of pocket. For more information about this drug, including its cost, talk with your doctor.

What’s the cost of tamsulosin 0.4 mg without insurance?

The cost of tamsulosin 0.4 milligram (mg) without insurance depends on various factors. These include:

• your dosage of the drug
• the quantity you’re prescribed, such as a 30-day or 90-day supply
• any available savings programs that you’re eligible for
• the pharmacy you use

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the cost of tamsulosin without insurance. They’ll be able to tell you how much you can expect to pay.

Be sure to check with a few pharmacies for the best price if you don’t have insurance. And check out “Can I get help paying for tamsulosin?” below for some helpful tips.

Tamsulosin is a generic drug. This means it contains an exact copy of the active drug in the brand-name version. A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original drug, but usually costs less.

Tamsulosin comes as the brand-name drug Flomax. To find out how costs of Flomax and tamsulosin compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed tamsulosin and you’re interested in taking Flomax 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, 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 drugmaker 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.

If you take tamsulosin 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 tamsulosin 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 tamsulosin, 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 for tamsulosin. 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 tamsulosin 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 tamsulosin, a doctor or pharmacist may be able to tell you the exact price you’ll pay. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for tamsulosin.

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

• Would tamsulosin cost more if I needed a higher dose?
• What are my options if I can’t afford tamsulosin?
• How does the cost of tamsulosin compare with other treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia?

To learn more about tamsulosin, see these articles:

• All About Tamsulosin Oral Capsules
• Side Effects of Tamsulosin Oral Capsule: What You Need to Know

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Austra Health’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

Disclaimer: Austra Health 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.

Last medically reviewed on March 22, 2023