Cromolyn Cost Is a Real Barrier to Patient Adherence

If you prescribe Cromolyn Sodium for mastocytosis or mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), you've likely heard from patients struggling to afford it. With cash prices ranging from $130 to over $400 per month for the oral solution — and an ongoing shortage driving prices higher at some pharmacies — cost is a significant adherence barrier.

This guide provides a practical framework for helping your patients access Cromolyn at a lower cost, including manufacturer programs, coupon cards, compounding options, and how to build cost conversations into your workflow.

What Your Patients Are Actually Paying

Understanding the cost landscape helps you anticipate patient concerns and offer solutions proactively.

Current Price Ranges (2026)

• Brand-name Gastrocrom (oral solution): $300–$400+ per month without insurance
• Generic Cromolyn Sodium oral solution: $130–$300 per month without insurance; approximately $134 for a 96-ampule box with a GoodRx coupon
• Compounded oral capsules (100 mg or 200 mg): $200–$250 for a 60–90 day supply
• NasalCrom (OTC nasal spray): $15–$20 — not relevant for systemic use

Insurance Coverage Challenges

Coverage for Cromolyn varies significantly across payers:

• Many commercial plans cover generic Cromolyn Sodium oral solution but may require prior authorization
• Some plans classify Cromolyn as a specialty medication with higher copays
• Step therapy may be required, with insurers asking patients to try antihistamines first
• Medicaid coverage varies by state
• Medicare Part D plans generally cover the generic, but formulary tier placement affects out-of-pocket costs

When prior authorization is required, providing clear documentation of the diagnosis (systemic mastocytosis, elevated tryptase levels, or documented MCAS criteria) and failed trials of alternative therapies significantly improves approval rates.

Manufacturer Savings Programs

Viatris (Gastrocrom Manufacturer)

Viatris, the parent company of Meda Pharmaceuticals (maker of Gastrocrom), may offer a patient assistance program for qualifying low-income patients. Eligibility typically requires:

• Household income below a specified threshold (often 200–400% of the federal poverty level)
• No coverage under a government-funded insurance program (for some programs)
• A valid prescription from a licensed provider

Contact Viatris Patient Assistance at their website or have your office staff reach out directly. Processing can take 4–6 weeks, so initiate early.

Prescription Hope

Prescription Hope is a patient assistance organization that offers Gastrocrom for $70 per month through partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers. This program is available to patients regardless of income, insurance status, or age. Enrollment is done online and typically processed within 1–2 weeks.

This is one of the most straightforward cost-reduction options and worth mentioning to every patient who expresses cost concerns.

Coupon and Discount Cards

For patients paying out of pocket or facing high copays, prescription discount cards can provide meaningful savings on generic Cromolyn Sodium.

Recommended Coupon Sources

• GoodRx: Shows generic Cromolyn Sodium oral solution starting around $134 for a 96-ampule box. Prices vary by pharmacy, and the coupon is free to use.
• SingleCare: Often competitive with GoodRx pricing. Patients can compare both.
• RxSaver: Another comparison tool that aggregates pharmacy pricing with available coupons.
• Optum Perks: Offers discount cards accepted at most major pharmacies.
• BuzzRx and America's Pharmacy: Additional coupon sources worth checking, especially at independent pharmacies.

A practical workflow: direct patients to compare prices on GoodRx and SingleCare before filling, and remind them that prices can vary by $50–$100+ between pharmacies for the same medication.

Important Notes on Coupons

• Coupon cards cannot be combined with government insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare) — this is a federal anti-kickback statute issue
• Patients with commercial insurance can often use coupons for the copay portion
• Coupon prices change frequently — patients should check each time they refill

Generic Alternatives and Therapeutic Substitution

Generic Cromolyn Sodium

Generic Cromolyn Sodium oral solution is available from manufacturers including Micro Labs, Rising Pharmaceuticals, and Omnivium Pharmaceuticals. Generics are therapeutically equivalent and significantly cheaper than brand-name Gastrocrom. Always prescribe generically unless there's a clinical reason for the brand.

Compounded Cromolyn

When commercial Cromolyn oral solution is unavailable due to the ongoing shortage, compounding pharmacies can prepare Cromolyn in oral capsule form. Key considerations:

• Typical cost: $200–$250 for a 60–90 day supply
• Available as 100 mg or 200 mg capsules
• Requires a prescription written specifically for the compounded formulation
• Bioavailability may differ from the commercial oral solution
• Not all compounding pharmacies stock Cromolyn API — verify before referring patients

Therapeutic Alternatives

If cost or availability makes Cromolyn untenable, consider discussing therapeutic alternatives with your patients:

• Ketotifen: A mast cell stabilizer with antihistamine properties. Available as compounded oral capsules. Often the first alternative when Cromolyn is unavailable.
• Hydroxyzine: An H1 antihistamine that can help manage mast cell symptoms. Inexpensive and widely available, though it causes drowsiness.
• Famotidine: An H2 antihistamine (Pepcid) useful as adjunct therapy for GI symptoms. Available OTC for $5–$15/month.
• Montelukast: A leukotriene receptor antagonist that may help with some mast cell symptoms. Generic is widely available and affordable.

Document the clinical rationale for any therapeutic substitution, particularly if the switch is driven by cost or availability rather than clinical preference.

Building Cost Conversations Into Your Workflow

Cost discussions don't have to be awkward or time-consuming. Here are practical ways to integrate them:

At the Point of Prescribing

• Mention cost proactively: "Cromolyn can be expensive — let me make sure you know about some options to keep the cost manageable."
• Prescribe generically: Write for "Cromolyn Sodium oral solution" rather than Gastrocrom
• Provide a cost resource: Hand patients a printed or digital reference to GoodRx, Prescription Hope, and Medfinder's savings guide for Cromolyn

At Follow-Up Visits

• Ask about adherence barriers: "Have you had any trouble getting or affording your Cromolyn?"
• Reassess dose: If a patient is stable on a lower dose, maintaining the minimum effective dose reduces cost
• Check availability: If the patient is having trouble finding Cromolyn in stock, suggest Medfinder for providers to check real-time pharmacy availability

Staff and Office Workflow

• Train front-desk and nursing staff to provide cost resources when patients express concern
• Keep a reference sheet of patient assistance programs in your EMR or office materials
• Consider designating a staff member to assist with prior authorization and patient assistance applications

Quick Reference: Cromolyn Cost-Reduction Options

• Prescription Hope: $70/month for Gastrocrom — open to all patients
• GoodRx coupon: ~$134 for 96 ampules of generic
• Generic substitution: Always prescribe generically
• Compounding: $200–$250 per 60–90 days when commercial is unavailable
• Prior authorization: Document diagnosis + failed alternatives for insurance approval
• NeedyMeds / RxAssist: Additional patient assistance databases
• Medfinder: medfinder.com/providers for real-time stock checking

Final Thoughts

Cromolyn Sodium is an essential medication for many patients with mastocytosis and MCAS, but cost and availability can undermine even the best clinical outcomes. By proactively addressing cost at the point of prescribing, connecting patients with savings programs, and having a plan for when the commercial product is unavailable, you can help your patients stay on therapy.

For real-time Cromolyn availability and provider tools, visit Medfinder for Providers. For a patient-facing guide you can share, see our post on how to save money on Cromolyn.