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August 2018 Drug List Updates: Thirty-one new generic drugs added to many Medicare Part D plan formularies.

Monthly Formulary changes · published Aug 29, 2018

As you may know, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans update their plan formularies (drug lists) throughout the plan year and the August 2018 Medicare Part D formulary updates included 104 new drugs, 31 of which are new generic drugs - with a total of 43 new generic equivalents (variations of manufacturer, drug-strength, and packaging).

Below is a full list of the new generics added to the 2018 Medicare Part D (PDP) and Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) formularies:






Generic Drug Equivalent [Brand-Name Drug]

Number of
PDP
Formularies*

Number of
MAPD
Formularies*
BEKYREE 28 DAY TABLET [VIORELE] 52 296
BUPRENORPHINE 10 MCG/HR PATCH [Butrans] 13 97
BUPRENORPHINE 20 MCG/HR PATCH [Butrans] 13 97
BUPRENORPHINE 5 MCG/HR PATCH [Butrans] 13 97
CIPROFLOXACIN 0.2% OTIC SOLN DROPERETTE [Cetraxal] 21 159
CLOFARABINE 20 MG/20 ML VIAL [Clolar] 50 274
CLONAZEPAM 0.5 MG TABLET [Klonopin] 63 341
CLONAZEPAM 1 MG TABLET [Klonopin] 63 341
CLONAZEPAM 2 MG TABLET [Klonopin] 63 341
CLOZAPINE ODT 12.5 MG TABLET RAPDIS [Fazaclo] 63 340
COLESEVELAM 625 MG TABLET [WelChol] 39 199
DACTINOMYCIN 0.5 MG VIAL [Cosmegen] 46 240
DIDANOSINE DR 200 MG CAPSULE DR [Videx EC] 63 341
ESTARYLLA 0.25-0.035 MG TABLET [VyLibra] 58 286
GRISEOFULVIN ULTRA 250 MG Tablet [Gris-Peg] 56 289
INTROVALE 0.15-0.03 MG TABLET TBDSPK 3MO [Setlakin] 60 309
LACTULOSE 10 GM/15 ML SOLUTION [Constulose] 63 341
LORYNA 3 MG-0.02 MG TABLET [Yaz] 53 288
MEDROXYPROGESTERONE 150 MG/ML VIAL [Depo-Provera] 63 332
METHADONE HCL 200 MG/20 ML VIAL [Dolophine] 29 192
METHYLPHENIDATE ER 72 MG TABLET ER 24 [RELEXXII] 9 70
METHYLPHENIDATE LA 10 MG CAP CPBP 50-50 [Ritalin LA] 15 148
METHYLPHENIDATE LA 30 MG CAP CPBP 50-50 [Ritalin LA] 17 150
MILI 0.25-0.035 MG TABLET [VyLibra] 55 293
MOXIFLOXACIN 400 MG/250 ML BAG PIGGYBACK [Avelox I.V.] 29 165
NORETH-ESTRAD-FE 1-0.02(24)-75 Chewable Tablet [Minastrin] 20 80
PALONOSETRON 0.25 MG/5 ML VIAL [Aloxi] 21 106
PILOCARPINE 1% EYE DROPS [Pilocar] 60 323
PILOCARPINE 2% EYE DROPS [Pilocar] 60 323
PILOCARPINE 4% EYE DROPS [Pilocar] 60 323
QUETIAPINE ER 150 MG Tablet ER 24H [Seroquel XR] 52 309
QUETIAPINE ER 200 MG Tablet ER 24H [Seroquel XR] 52 309
QUETIAPINE ER 300 MG Tablet ER 24H [Seroquel XR] 52 309
QUETIAPINE ER 50 MG Tablet ER 24H [Seroquel XR] 52 309
RECLIPSEN 28 DAY TABLET [Solia] 60 315
SYEDA 28 TABLET [Zarah] 54 270
TIGECYCLINE 50 MG VIAL [Tygacil] 59 326
TRI-MILI 28 TABLET [Trinessa] 55 292
TRI-VYLIBRA 28 TABLET [Trinessa] 55 283
TRIAMCINOLONE 0.1% LOTION [Kenalog] 60 327
VALPROIC ACID 500 MG/10 ML Solution [Depakene] 63 341
VENLAFAXINE HCL ER 37.5 MG TAB ER 24 [Venlafaxine] 18 172
VENLAFAXINE HCL ER 75 MG TABLET 24 [Venlafaxine] 18 173
*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 2018 generics are being offered on the same tier as their brand-name equivalent or the generics do not have a significantly lower retail price. For example, the brand-name Emend (40 mg) may be a Tier 4 drug (45% co-insurance) and the same plan may now cover the generic equivalent APREPITANT 40 MG CAPSULE also as a Tier 4 drug (45% co-insurance). You can click here to see how your Medicare drug plan is covering these medication.

  • 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. 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 July 2018 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