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April 2021 Drug List Updates: Fifty-five (55) new generic drugs added to many Medicare Part D plan formularies.

Monthly Formulary changes · published Apr 27, 2021

As you may know, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans update their plan formularies (drug lists) throughout the plan year and the April 2021 Medicare Part D formulary updates included 95 new drugs, 55 of which are new generic drugs - with a total of 84 new generic equivalents (variations of manufacturer, drug-strength, and packaging).

Below is a full list of the new generics added to the 2021 Medicare Part D (PDP) and Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) formularies:



Generic Drug Equivalent [Brand-Name Drug]

Number of
PDP
Formularies*

Number of
MAPD
Formularies*
ACARBOSE 100 MG TABLET [Precose] 68 400
ACARBOSE 25 MG TABLET [Precose] 68 400
ACARBOSE 50 MG TABLET [Precose] 68 400
ALA-CORT 2.5% CREAM (G) [Proctozone-HC] 50 275
AMABELZ 0.5 MG-0.1 MG TABLET [Mimvey Lo] 32 304
AMABELZ 1 MG-0.5 MG TABLET [Mimvey] 43 318
ASENAPINE 10 MG SUBLIGUAL TABLET [Saphris] 65 385
ASENAPINE 2.5 MG SUBLIGUAL TABLET [Saphris] 65 385
ASENAPINE 5 MG SUBLIGUAL TABLET [Saphris] 65 385
BETAMETHASONE DP AUG 0.05% OINTMENT [Diprolene] 59 384
CALCIPOTRIENE 0.005% OINTMENT [Dovonex] 49 336
CASPOFUNGIN ACETATE 50 MG VIAL [Cancidas] 64 374
CASPOFUNGIN ACETATE 70 MG VIAL [Cancidas] 64 374
CEFACLOR 250 MG CAPSULE [Ceclor] 67 395
CEFACLOR 500 MG CAPSULE [Ceclor] 68 395
CEFADROXIL 1 GM TABLET [Duricef] 39 280
CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE-CLIDINIUM CAPSULE [Librax] 0 14
DAPTOMYCIN 350 MG VIAL [Cubicin RF] 37 237
DICLOFENAC SODIUM 1% GEL [Voltaren Gel] 68 400
DILTIAZEM 24H ER(LA) 180 MG TABLET [Matzim LA] 37 235
DILTIAZEM 24H ER(LA) 240 MG TABLET [Matzim LA] 37 235
DILTIAZEM 24H ER(LA) 300 MG TABLET [Matzim LA] 37 235
DILTIAZEM 24H ER(LA) 360 MG TABLET [Matzim LA] 37 235
DIMETHYL FUMARATE 30D START PK CAPSULE DR [Tecfidera] 40 274
DOXEPIN HCL 3 MG TABLET [Silenor] 36 222
DOXEPIN HCL 6 MG TABLET [Silenor] 36 222
FLUOCINONIDE 0.05% CREAM (G) [Lidex] 57 368
FYAVOLV 0.5 MG-2.5 MCG TABLET [Jevantique] 29 297
FYAVOLV 1 MG-5 MCG TABLET [Jinteli 1/5] 29 300
GLYBURIDE MICRO 1.5 MG TABLET [Glynase PresTab] 37 232
GLYBURIDE MICRO 6 MG TABLET [Glynase PresTab] 37 232
HYDROCODONE-IBUPROFEN 10-200 TABLET [Xylon 10] 17 239
HYDROCODONE-IBUPROFEN 5-200 MG TABLET [Reprexain] 17 243
HYDROCODONE-IBUPROFEN 7.5-200 TABLET [Vicoprofen] 51 360
HYDROMORPHONE 1 MG/ML SOLUTION LIQUID [Dilaudid] 57 343
ICLEVIA 0.15 MG-0.03 MG TABLET TBDSPK 3MO [Setlakin] 56 322
ICLUSIG 10 MG TABLET 68 399
ICLUSIG 30 MG TABLET 68 399
ICOSAPENT ETHYL 1 GRAM CAPSULE [VASCEPA] 41 182
IVERMECTIN 0.5% LOTION [Sklice] 2 83
LANSOPRAZOLE DR 30 MG CAPSULE DR [Prevacid] 47 386
LEVOTHYROXINE 100 MCG CAPSULE [Tirosint] 1 30
LEVOTHYROXINE 112 MCG CAPSULE [Tirosint] 1 30
LEVOTHYROXINE 125 MCG CAPSULE [Tirosint] 1 30
LEVOTHYROXINE 13 MCG CAPSULE [Tirosint] 1 31
LEVOTHYROXINE 137 MCG CAPSULE [Tirosint] 1 30
LEVOTHYROXINE 150 MCG CAPSULE [Tirosint] 1 30
LEVOTHYROXINE 175 MCG CAPSULE [Tirosint] 1 30
LEVOTHYROXINE 200 MCG CAPSULE [Tirosint] 1 30
LEVOTHYROXINE 25 MCG CAPSULE [Tirosint] 1 30
LEVOTHYROXINE 50 MCG CAPSULE [Tirosint] 1 30
LEVOTHYROXINE 75 MCG CAPSULE [Tirosint] 1 30
LEVOTHYROXINE 88 MCG CAPSULE [Tirosint] 1 30
LYLEQ 0.35 MG TABLET [Sharobel 28-Day] 59 337
MERZEE 1 MG-20 MCG CAPSULE [Taytulla] 13 107
METHADONE HCL 5 MG TABLET [Methadose] 68 390
METHOXSALEN 10 MG SOFTGEL CAP LQ RAP 37 296
METRONIDAZOLE 0.75% CREAM (G) [Vitazol] 68 399
NAPROXEN 125 MG/5 ML ORAL SUSPENSION [Naprosyn] 37 172
NAPROXEN DR 375 MG TABLET DR [EC-Naprosyn] 57 381
NAPROXEN DR 500 MG TABLET DR [EC-Naprosyn] 57 381
NISOLDIPINE ER 17 MG TABLET ER 24H [Sular] 24 213
NISOLDIPINE ER 34 MG TABLET ER 24H [Sular] 24 213
NISOLDIPINE ER 8.5 MG TABLET ER 24H [Sular] 24 213
NITAZOXANIDE 500 MG TABLET [Alinia] 67 396
NITROFURANTOIN 25 MG/5 ML ORAL SUSPENSION [Furadantin] 34 149
NYLIA 7-7-7-28 TABLET [Pirmella] 56 343
OFLOXACIN 300 MG TABLET [Floxin] 15 160
OFLOXACIN 400 MG TABLET [Floxin] 28 255
OXYCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN 5-325 TABLET [Roxicet] 68 400
PANTOPRAZOLE SOD DR 40 MG TABLET DR [Protonix] 68 400
POTASSIUM CL 20 MEQ PACKET [Klor-Con] 28 257
RUFINAMIDE 40 MG/ML ORAL SUSPENSION [Banzel] 68 394
SAPROPTERIN 100 MG TABLET SOL [KUVAN] 68 393
SODIUM CHLORIDE 0.45% SOLUTION IV SOLUTION 67 360
THEOPHYLLINE ER 400 MG TABLET ER 24H [Uniphyl] 68 399
THEOPHYLLINE ER 600 MG TABLET ER 24H [Uniphyl] 68 399
TIAGABINE HCL 2 MG TABLET [Gabitril] 68 400
TILIA FE 28 TABLET [Tri-Legest Fe] 51 272
TIMOLOL 0.25% GEL-SOLUTION SOL-GEL [Timoptic-XE] 68 387
TIMOLOL 0.5% GEL-SOLUTION SOL-GEL [Timoptic-XE] 68 387
VENLAFAXINE HCL 100 MG TABLET [Effexor] 68 400
VYFEMLA 0.4 MG-0.035 MG TABLET [Zenchent] 59 350
ZAFIRLUKAST 20 MG TABLET [Accolate] 68 397




*The number of formularies counts the unique formularies that offer this medication. As a note, the same formulary can be used by one or many different Medicare Part D plans. The same formulary can be used by both PDP and MAPD plans.

What Could the Addition of New Generic Drugs Mean to You?

  • You may be able to save money by switching from the brand-name drug to its generic equivalent – with your prescriber’s approval and a new prescription. Please note, you will need to look carefully at coverage costs as we have found that many 2021 generics are being offered on the same tier as their brand-name equivalent or the generics do not have a significantly lower retail price.

  • Your brand-name drug may no longer be available if a generic is now available. Based on past experience, you may find that many Medicare Part D plans discontinue coverage for the brand-name drug in the months following the introduction of the generic equivalent - or your plan may immediately drop the brand-name drug now that the generic is being introduced
    .
    If you have received notice from your Medicare Part D plan that your brand-name medication will be dropped, you should speak with your prescriber to determine if you can take the generic equivalent or if you must continue taking the brand-name drug, you will need to ask your plan for a formulary exception to continue coverage for your brand-name drug.

    You can click for a chart showing the trends in formulary coverage for some of the more popular Medicare drugs and their generic equivalents.
As a note, both our Formulary Browser (you can view all the drugs covered by a single Medicare prescription drug plan) and our the drug finder Drug Finder (you can view all the Medicare drug plans covering a single drug) have been updated with the April 2021 Medicare Part D formulary data.

Additional Formulary Drug Change Articles:

Medicare Part D Plan Formulary (Drug Lists) Updates:
June 2026, May 2026, March-April 2026, February 2026, 2026 Rx: November 2025, August 2025, July 2025, June 2025, April 2025, March 2025, June 2024, May 2024, April 2024, September 2023, August 2023, June 2023, May 2023, April 2023, March 2023, February 2023, August 2022, June 2022, May 2022, April 2022, March 2022, February 2022, August 2021, June 2021, May 2021, April 2021, September 2020, August 2020, June 2020, May 2020, April 2020, March 2020, September 2019, July 2019, June 2019, May 2019, April 2019, March 2019, August 2018, July 2018, June 2018, May 2018, April 2018, August 2017, July 2017, May 2017, April 2017, August 2016, July 2016, June 2016, April 2016, March 2016, October 2015, August 2015, July 2015, May 2015, April 2015, August 2014, May 2014, August 2013, June 2013, May 2013, April 2013, August 2012, July 2012, June 2012

New Generic Equivalents Added to Formularies:
2026 Gnrcs: November 2025 May 2024, June 2023, February 2023, August 2021, June 2021, May 2021, April 2021, September 2020, August 2020, June 2020, May 2020, April 2020, March 2020, September 2019, July 2019, June 2019, May 2019, April 2019, March 2019, August 2018, July 2018, April 2018, August 2017, July 2017, April 2017, March & April 2016, April & May 2015, August 2014, May 2014