Trichomoniasis medicine typically costs between $4 and $85 out of pocket, depending on which drug you’re prescribed, whether you use insurance or a discount coupon, and where you fill it. The most commonly prescribed treatment, generic metronidazole, is one of the cheapest antibiotics available and can cost under $10 at many pharmacies with a coupon. You do need a prescription, though, since no over-the-counter medication can cure trichomoniasis.
Cost of Metronidazole, the First-Line Treatment
Metronidazole is the standard treatment for trichomoniasis. The regimen differs slightly depending on sex: women are typically prescribed 500 mg tablets taken twice a day for seven days (14 tablets total), while men usually get a single 2-gram dose (four 500 mg tablets taken at once). That difference matters for cost.
At full retail price, 500 mg metronidazole tablets run roughly $0.88 to $0.98 per pill. A 7-day course for women would come to about $12 to $14 at retail. A single-dose regimen for men costs even less, around $4. Many pharmacies sell generic metronidazole on their discount drug lists for $4 to $10 without insurance, making it one of the most affordable prescription medications you can fill. Pharmacy discount tools like GoodRx can bring the price down further if your pharmacy doesn’t already offer a low-cost generic rate.
Cost of Tinidazole, the Alternative
If metronidazole doesn’t work or you can’t tolerate it, tinidazole is the main alternative. It’s taken as a single 2-gram dose for both men and women. Tinidazole costs more than metronidazole. The average retail price for a 2-gram dose (typically four 500 mg tablets) is around $85, but pharmacy coupons can bring that down to roughly $33. It’s still significantly pricier than metronidazole, which is why most providers prescribe metronidazole first.
The Expensive Option: Single-Dose Secnidazole
A brand-name, single-dose granule packet called Solosec (secnidazole) is also used for trichomoniasis. You sprinkle one packet of granules onto soft food and eat it. The convenience comes at a steep price: approximately $285 per dose at retail. Most people treating trichomoniasis won’t need this option, but it exists for cases where other medications aren’t suitable. Insurance coverage for Solosec varies widely.
What You’ll Pay Beyond the Pill
The medication itself is only part of the total cost. You also need a visit to get the prescription. If you have insurance, a standard office copay covers this. Without insurance, costs vary depending on where you go.
Community health clinics and Planned Parenthood locations use sliding-scale fees based on income, and STI testing and treatment can range from $0 to $250 depending on how many tests are included. Some clinics bundle testing and treatment together, so you may pay one fee that covers everything from the visit through the prescription.
Telehealth platforms offer another route. Some online services charge around $39 for a trichomoniasis consultation and prescription, with the medication cost added separately if you pick it up at a local pharmacy rather than having it shipped. This can be a practical option if you already have a positive test result or a known exposure and want to skip an in-person visit.
Getting Treatment for Your Partner
Your sexual partner needs treatment too, or you’ll likely get reinfected. In many states, your provider can write an extra prescription or provide medication for your partner directly, a practice called expedited partner therapy. This lets your partner start treatment without a separate appointment. Whether you or your partner covers the cost of that second prescription depends on the clinic and your state’s rules, but since generic metronidazole is so inexpensive, the added cost is usually minimal.
How to Keep Costs Low
The cheapest path to treatment is generic metronidazole filled at a pharmacy that offers discount pricing. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Ask for generic metronidazole specifically. Brand-name Flagyl costs significantly more for the same drug.
- Check pharmacy discount programs. Stores like Walmart, Costco, and many grocery store pharmacies carry metronidazole on their $4 generic lists.
- Use a free coupon tool. GoodRx, RxSaver, and similar apps show you the lowest price at pharmacies near you and provide printable or digital coupons.
- Visit a community health clinic. Federally qualified health centers and Title X clinics often provide STI medication at no cost or very low cost for uninsured patients.
For most people, the total out-of-pocket cost for trichomoniasis treatment, including an affordable clinic visit and generic medication, falls somewhere between $4 and $50. Even without insurance, this is one of the least expensive STIs to treat.