Pyridostigmine Bromide Coupons & Prices

Looking for a pyridostigmine bromide coupon? Pyridostigmine bromide is the low-cost generic of Mestinon, a cholinesterase inhibitor used to treat the muscle weakness of myasthenia gravis. Even though the generic is already inexpensive, the cash price can vary a lot from one pharmacy to the next, so it pays to compare. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price at pharmacies near you. Rx.com compares prices across more than 60,000 pharmacies so you can bring the lowest one to the counter.

What is pyridostigmine bromide and how does it work?

Pyridostigmine bromide is a cholinesterase inhibitor (also called an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor), a type of cholinergic or parasympathomimetic medicine. It is FDA-approved to treat myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune condition that causes muscle weakness. It works by slowing the breakdown of acetylcholine, a natural chemical messenger, at the neuromuscular junction where nerves signal muscles to contract. With more acetylcholine available, muscle strength improves.

The medicine is sold under the brand names Mestinon (immediate-release tablet and syrup), Mestinon Timespan (extended-release tablet), and Regonol (injection). Pyridostigmine is also FDA-approved as a pretreatment given to military personnel to increase survival after anticipated exposure to the nerve agent soman, and the injectable form is used in the hospital to reverse the effects of certain nondepolarizing muscle relaxants after surgery. Always take it exactly as your provider directs.

How much does generic pyridostigmine cost, and how can you save?

Because pyridostigmine bromide is available as an FDA-approved generic, it is generally one of the more affordable myasthenia gravis medicines to fill without insurance. That said, the cash price is not the same everywhere. The same tablet can carry very different prices at two pharmacies on the same street, which is exactly why comparing is worth your time. There is no manufacturer copay savings card for the generic, so a free discount coupon is usually the simplest way to lower the cash price.

To see current pricing, enter your ZIP code above. Rx.com checks prices across more than 60,000 pharmacies and shows you a discount coupon you can use at the pharmacy counter, whether you are paying cash or your plan does not cover the drug. Note that the immediate-release and extended-release (Timespan) forms are priced separately, so compare the exact form your provider prescribed.

Brand and related medicines

Pyridostigmine bromide is the generic equivalent of Mestinon. If your prescription is written for the brand, ask your pharmacist whether the substitutable generic is right for you, since it usually costs less. Neostigmine is another cholinesterase inhibitor sometimes used for myasthenia gravis and in surgical settings.

Myasthenia gravis is often managed with more than one medicine. Providers may add immune-suppressing treatments such as prednisone or azathioprine alongside pyridostigmine. These are different types of drugs that work in different ways, so which combination is right depends on your situation. Only your provider can decide what to prescribe.

Safety and side effects

Pyridostigmine has no boxed warning. It should not be used by people with a mechanical blockage of the intestines or urinary tract, or by anyone with a known allergy to bromides. Use extra caution if you have asthma, a slow heart rate or other heart rhythm problems, or peptic ulcer disease. The most common side effects are dose-related and cholinergic in nature: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, increased saliva and bronchial secretions, sweating, small pupils, and muscle twitching or cramps.

Taking too much can cause a cholinergic crisis, with heavy salivation, sweating, a slow heartbeat, difficulty breathing, and muscle weakness that can be hard to tell apart from a myasthenic crisis; atropine is the antidote for the muscarinic effects. If you take the Mestinon Timespan extended-release tablet, swallow it whole, do not crush or chew it. This is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your provider or pharmacist about your health history and any other medicines you take.