Afrezza Coupons & Prices

Looking for an Afrezza coupon? Afrezza is a brand-only inhaled mealtime insulin (insulin human inhalation powder) with no generic version available, so the price you pay can vary a lot from one pharmacy to the next. Use the Rx.com cash coupon above to compare what Afrezza costs at pharmacies near you and bring the price to the counter. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price, and read on for how the coupon compares with the manufacturer's savings program.

What is Afrezza and how does it work?

Afrezza is human insulin in a dry powder that you breathe in through a small inhaler instead of injecting. It is a rapid-acting mealtime (prandial) insulin, taken at the start of each meal to help control the rise in blood sugar that comes with eating. It is FDA-approved to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with diabetes mellitus.

Afrezza is not a substitute for long-acting basal insulin. In type 1 diabetes it must be used together with a long-acting insulin. In type 2 diabetes it is used along with other diabetes medicines or insulin as needed. It is not recommended for treating diabetic ketoacidosis. Doses are not swapped unit-for-unit with injectable insulin, so your prescriber has to map your dose over when starting.

Afrezza cost: manufacturer savings card vs. the Rx.com cash coupon

Two very different discounts get called an "Afrezza coupon," and it helps to know which one fits you. MannKind, the maker of Afrezza, runs an official savings program described on the Afrezza brand website. Like most brand copay cards, these programs are generally limited to people with commercial (private) insurance and typically exclude Medicare, Medicaid, and other government coverage. Terms, eligibility, and any limits vary and change over time, so check the current terms on the manufacturer's own site before you count on it.

The Rx.com cash coupon is different. It is a discount on the cash price, so it can be used if you are uninsured, if you are on Medicare or another government plan that the manufacturer card shuts out, or if the copay card is declined at the register. You cannot combine a cash coupon with your insurance on the same fill, but you can price both ways and pay whichever is lower. Prices vary by pharmacy, sometimes widely for the same drug on the same day, so it pays to compare. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price at pharmacies near you. Afrezza's manufacturer also points patients to access and support resources through its official channels if you are having trouble affording it.

Afrezza alternatives and how it compares

Afrezza is the only inhaled insulin on the US market, and there is no generic version of it. The usual alternatives are injectable rapid-acting mealtime insulins, which are taken by pen or syringe rather than inhaled, and which do not carry Afrezza's lung-related restrictions. Commonly prescribed mealtime options include:

• Humalog (insulin lispro)
• NovoLog (insulin aspart)
• Apidra (insulin glulisine)
• Humulin R (regular human insulin), a shorter-acting injectable option

Mealtime insulin is usually paired with a long-acting basal insulin such as Lantus (insulin glargine) or Tresiba (insulin degludec). Which combination is right for you is a decision for your prescriber, not something to change on your own. If cost is the reason you are looking, ask whether a different mealtime insulin is appropriate, and compare cash prices here for each one before you decide.

Afrezza safety: what to know before you use it

Afrezza carries a boxed warning for the risk of acute bronchospasm in people with chronic lung disease. The label lists three contraindications (situations in which it must not be used): during episodes of hypoglycemia; in people with chronic lung disease such as asthma or COPD; and in anyone who has had a previous severe hypersensitivity reaction to any regular human insulin product or to any of Afrezza's inactive ingredients. Because of the bronchospasm risk, your provider should check your lung function with a breathing test (spirometry, FEV1) before you start, again at about 6 months, and once a year after that. Separately, the label says Afrezza is not recommended in people who smoke or who have recently stopped smoking.

Other risks on the label include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which is the most common reaction and can be life-threatening, especially when Afrezza is combined with sulfonylureas or other insulins; a decline in lung function; low potassium (hypokalemia); lung cancer, where cases were reported in patients exposed to Afrezza and a prior history of heavy tobacco use was identified as a risk factor in some of them; fluid retention and heart failure when used with thiazolidinediones; and hypersensitivity reactions. The label advises that in people with active lung cancer, a prior history of lung cancer, or who are at risk for lung cancer, the prescriber should weigh whether the benefits of Afrezza outweigh this potential risk. The most common side effects are hypoglycemia, cough, and throat pain or irritation. Never share an inhaler with another person. This is a summary, not medical advice, and not a complete list, so talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.