How to Save Money on Apriso in 2026: Coupons, Discounts, and Patient Assistance

How to Save Money on Apriso in 2026

If you've looked at the price tag on Apriso and felt your stomach drop, you're not alone. Brand-name Apriso can cost $500 to $700 per month without insurance — that's $6,000 to $8,400 a year just for one medication. For a drug you need to take every single day to keep ulcerative colitis in remission, that price is a serious barrier.

But here's what your pharmacy might not tell you: there are multiple ways to bring that cost down dramatically. Some patients pay as little as $42 per month. In this guide, we'll walk through every money-saving option available for Apriso and Mesalamine ER in 2026.

What Does Apriso Cost Without Insurance?

Let's start with the numbers. Apriso is prescribed as four 0.375 g capsules taken once daily, which means a 30-day supply is 120 capsules. Here's what that costs:

• Brand-name Apriso: $506–$700 per month (retail cash price for 120 capsules)
• Generic Mesalamine ER: $500–$520 per month at retail price without any discount
• Generic Mesalamine ER with coupon: As low as $42–$55 per month

The key insight: the retail price of the generic is barely cheaper than the brand. But with a free coupon card, the generic price drops by over 90%. That's where the real savings are.

Option 1: Switch to Generic Mesalamine ER

If you're still paying for brand-name Apriso, the single biggest thing you can do is switch to generic Mesalamine ER. It's the same medication — same active ingredient (Mesalamine 0.375 g), same extended-release formulation, same once-daily dosing.

Ask your doctor to write your prescription for "Mesalamine ER" instead of "Apriso," or simply ask your pharmacist if they can substitute the generic. In most states, pharmacists can automatically substitute the generic unless your doctor has written "brand name only" on the prescription.

Even without a coupon, the generic is available at most pharmacies. But you definitely want to combine the generic with a coupon card for maximum savings.

Option 2: Use a Free Coupon or Discount Card

Prescription coupon cards are free to use and can reduce the price of generic Mesalamine ER dramatically. Here are the best options:

SingleCare

SingleCare consistently offers some of the lowest prices for generic Mesalamine ER:

• Price: As low as $44.20 for 120 capsules (0.375 g)
• How to use: Search for Mesalamine ER at singlecare.com, show the coupon to your pharmacist
• Works at: CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger, and most major chains

GoodRx

GoodRx is another widely used option:

• Price: Starting around $42–$55 for 120 capsules
• GoodRx Gold: As low as $41.70 with the paid subscription ($9.99/month for the whole household)
• How to use: Search at goodrx.com or use the app, present the coupon at the pharmacy

Other Coupon Options

Several other services offer competitive pricing:

• RxSaver: Compare prices across pharmacies in your area
• Optum Perks: Free coupon card, accepted at most chains
• BuzzRx: App-based coupons with price comparison
• WellRx: Prescription discount card with pharmacy comparisons

Important tip: Prices vary between pharmacies even with the same coupon. Check two or three locations before filling to find the best deal. Costco and independent pharmacies often have the lowest prices.

Option 3: Manufacturer Savings Card (Brand-Name Apriso)

If you need or prefer brand-name Apriso, Salix Pharmaceuticals (the manufacturer) offers a savings card:

• First fill: Pay as little as $0
• Subsequent fills: Pay as little as $10 per fill
• Maximum benefit: $100 per fill
• Eligibility: Must have commercial (private) insurance
• Not eligible: Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, or other government-funded insurance

To get the savings card, visit the Apriso website or ask your doctor's office for a card. Your pharmacy processes it as a coordination of benefits (COB) claim alongside your regular insurance.

Note: This card may have periodic availability changes. Check the manufacturer's website for the most current offer.

Option 4: Patient Assistance Programs

If you're uninsured, underinsured, or can't afford your medication even with the options above, patient assistance programs (PAPs) may provide Apriso for free or at very low cost.

Bausch Health Patient Assistance Program

Bausch Health (the parent company of Salix Pharmaceuticals) offers a PAP for eligible patients. Requirements typically include:

• No insurance coverage for the medication, or inability to afford copays
• Income below certain thresholds (varies by program)
• U.S. residency

Apply through your doctor's office or directly through Bausch Health's website.

Third-Party Assistance Services

Several organizations can help you navigate assistance programs:

• Prescription Hope: Charges a flat $50/month service fee to access manufacturer assistance programs. They handle the paperwork and ship medications directly to you.
• Simplefill: Connects patients to assistance programs. Call 1-877-386-0206 to get started.
• NeedyMeds: Free database of patient assistance programs at needymeds.org
• RxAssist: Comprehensive directory of pharmaceutical assistance programs

State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs

Many states offer their own prescription assistance programs, especially for seniors and low-income residents. Check with your state's Department of Health or visit Medicare.gov for a list of State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs).

Option 5: Other Ways to Save

Mail-Order Pharmacy

Many insurance plans offer mail-order pharmacy options with 90-day supplies at a lower cost than three separate monthly fills. This works especially well for maintenance medications like Mesalamine ER. Check with your insurance plan about:

• Express Scripts
• CVS Caremark
• OptumRx
• Amazon Pharmacy

90-Day Supply Prescriptions

Even at a retail pharmacy, filling a 90-day supply is often cheaper per-capsule than a 30-day supply. Ask your doctor to write for 360 capsules (90-day supply) and compare pricing with your coupon card.

Shop Around

Pharmacy prices vary more than most people realize. For the same medication with the same coupon, you might see a $20–$30 difference between chains. Generally:

• Costco: Often has the lowest retail prices (you don't need a membership for the pharmacy)
• Walmart and Kroger: Competitive pricing with coupon cards
• Independent pharmacies: Sometimes offer the best coupon-card prices
• CVS and Walgreens: Convenient but sometimes higher priced

Check for 340B Pharmacies

If you receive care at a federally qualified health center, community health center, or qualifying hospital, you may have access to 340B pricing, which offers significant discounts on prescription medications.

Quick Savings Comparison

Here's a summary of what you might pay per month for 120 capsules of Mesalamine 0.375 g:

• Brand-name Apriso (no insurance, no coupon): $500–$700
• Generic Mesalamine ER (no coupon): ~$500–$520
• Generic with GoodRx coupon: ~$42–$55
• Generic with SingleCare coupon: ~$44
• Generic with GoodRx Gold: ~$42
• Brand with Salix Savings Card + insurance: $0–$10
• Through Patient Assistance Program: Free (if eligible) or $50/month via Prescription Hope

Final Thoughts

No one should have to choose between their health and their budget. With generic Mesalamine ER and a free coupon card, most patients can bring their monthly cost down to under $55 — a far cry from the $500+ retail price.

Start by asking your doctor about the generic. Then grab a free coupon from SingleCare or GoodRx. If you're uninsured or still struggling with cost, explore patient assistance programs — there's no shame in using resources that exist specifically to help.

Need help finding Apriso or Mesalamine ER in stock? Use Medfinder to check pharmacy availability near you. And for more information about the medication itself, check out our guides:

• What is Apriso? Uses, dosage, and what you need to know
• Apriso side effects: what to expect and when to call your doctor
• Alternatives to Apriso if you can't fill your prescription