Griseofulvin Microsize Coupons & Prices

Use a free Rx.com griseofulvin (microsize) coupon to compare cash prices at more than 60,000 pharmacies before you fill your prescription. Griseofulvin microsize is an oral antifungal used for ringworm infections of the skin, hair, and nails, and it is now sold in the United States as a generic only, so there is no brand product and no manufacturer savings card to apply. Cash prices for the same tablets or oral suspension can differ a lot from one pharmacy to the next, and courses often run for weeks or months, so it pays to compare before every fill. Enter your ZIP code above to see today's price near you and print, text, or show the coupon at the counter.

What is griseofulvin (microsize) and how does it work?

Griseofulvin is a systemic (oral) antifungal antibiotic originally derived from Penicillium species. It is fungistatic: it collects in the keratin-forming cells of your skin, hair, and nails and disrupts the fungus's mitotic spindle and microtubule function, so the fungus cannot multiply while healthy, uninfected keratin grows in to replace the infected tissue. That is why treatment takes time rather than working overnight.

It is FDA-approved for dermatophyte (ringworm) infections that topical antifungals have not cleared, including tinea corporis (body ringworm), tinea pedis (athlete's foot), tinea cruris (jock itch), tinea barbae (barber's itch), tinea capitis (scalp ringworm), and tinea unguium (fungal nail infection), caused by susceptible Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton species. It remains a first-line choice for scalp ringworm in children, especially Microsporum infections. Griseofulvin does not work against bacteria, Candida or other yeasts, tinea versicolor, or nondermatophyte molds, so the diagnosis matters.

Griseofulvin microsize cost and coupon savings without insurance

Microsize griseofulvin is marketed generically. The older brands (Grifulvin V, Fulvicin-U/F, and Grisactin) have all been discontinued, so there is no brand-name version to buy and no manufacturer copay or savings card for this product. What you pay is a cash price set pharmacy by pharmacy, and the spread between a big chain, a grocery pharmacy, and an independent down the street can be surprisingly wide for the exact same prescription.

That is what a discount coupon is for. Rx.com compares cash prices across more than 60,000 pharmacies, and our coupon is free to use whether or not you have insurance. It is worth checking even if you are insured, because a cash price with a coupon can sometimes land below a plan copay, and courses of griseofulvin are long: a nail infection may need several months of refills, so a per-fill difference repeats every month. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price for your strength and quantity, then bring the coupon to the pharmacy counter. Prices change, so it is worth re-checking each refill.

Griseofulvin microsize vs. ultramicrosize and other antifungals

The most important comparison is with the other griseofulvin form. Griseofulvin ultramicrosize (brand Gris-PEG, also available generically) is absorbed differently from microsize griseofulvin. The two are not interchangeable milligram for milligram, and a lower ultramicrosize dose can deliver a comparable amount of drug. Never swap one for the other on your own or assume the pharmacy can substitute them; ask your prescriber, and check that the coupon you pull up matches the form on your prescription.

Other oral antifungals are used for many of the same infections, and your prescriber chooses based on the fungus, the site, your age, your other medicines, and your liver health:

• Terbinafine is commonly used for fungal nail infections and some skin infections.
• Itraconazole is an azole antifungal used for several dermatophyte and other fungal infections.
• Fluconazole is another azole, best known for yeast infections, and is sometimes used for certain skin fungal infections.

Griseofulvin's long track record in children with scalp ringworm is a reason it is still prescribed. Each of these alternatives has its own monitoring and drug-interaction profile, so this is a conversation for your prescriber rather than a swap you make at the pharmacy.

Safety, side effects, and interactions to know

This is a summary, not medical advice; read the label your pharmacy gives you and talk with your prescriber. Griseofulvin is contraindicated in pregnancy. It can cause fetal harm, and cases of conjoined twins have been reported. Women who can become pregnant should use effective contraception during treatment and for one month after finishing, and men should wait at least six months after therapy before fathering a child. It is also contraindicated in porphyria, in hepatocellular failure, and in anyone with a prior allergic reaction to griseofulvin. Cross-sensitivity with penicillin is possible but rare.

Other important cautions:

• Liver: elevated AST, ALT, and bilirubin, and jaundice, have been reported. Long courses warrant periodic checks of liver, kidney, and blood counts (CBC).
• Serious skin reactions: Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and erythema multiforme have been reported. Stop the drug and contact your provider right away for a severe rash, blistering, or peeling.
• Sun: griseofulvin causes photosensitivity. Avoid intense or prolonged sun exposure. It may also bring on or worsen lupus-like reactions.
• Alcohol: drinking can cause a disulfiram-like reaction with flushing, fast heartbeat, nausea, and vomiting.
• Interactions: griseofulvin reduces the activity of warfarin-type anticoagulants (your INR should be monitored and the dose may need adjusting) and reduces the effectiveness of estrogen-containing birth control pills, which can cause breakthrough bleeding, so use a backup method. Barbiturates reduce griseofulvin's absorption and activity and may require a dosage change. Some griseofulvin labeling and drug references also report reduced cyclosporine levels and effect; if you take cyclosporine, have your prescriber check.

Tell your pharmacist and prescriber about every medicine and supplement you take before you start.