CMS NADAC
What pharmacies pay for medicines
What U.S. retail pharmacies paid per unit for 1,062 medicines in the CMS NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, with the largest 12-month changes. NADAC is an acquisition cost, not the price at the counter.
Which prices rose most in a year?
| Medicine | Description | Per unit | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clemastine | Clemastine fum 2.68 mg tablet | $3.18 per tablet | +534% |
| Water | Water for injection vial | $0.315 per mL | +212% |
| Benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin | Twyneo 0.1%-3% cream pump | $31.66 per gram | +102% |
| Fentanyl | Fentanyl 100 mcg/2 mL vial | $1.79 per mL | +76% |
| Codeine and promethazine | Promethazine-codeine solution | $0.0697 per mL | +72% |
| Acetylcysteine | Acetylcysteine 20% vial (not for injection) | $2.25 per mL | +70% |
| Levobunolol | Levobunolol 0.5% eye drops | $2.82 per mL | +50% |
| Fondaparinux | Fondaparinux 10 mg/0.8 mL syringe | $44.82 per mL | +41% |
| Paricalcitol | Paricalcitol 1 mcg capsule | $1.28 per capsule | +37% |
| Diflorasone | Diflorasone 0.05% ointment | $2.05 per gram | +34% |
| Hydrocodone | Hydrocodone ER 15 mg capsule | $7.95 per capsule | +34% |
| Fosinopril and hydrochlorothiazide | Fosinopril-hydrochlorothiazide 10-12.5 mg tablet | $0.634 per tablet | +34% |
| Zinc oxide | Zinc oxide 20% ointment | $0.0611 per gram | +33% |
| Calcium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride and sodium lactate | Lactated ringers injection | $0.0038 per mL | +32% |
| Duloxetine | Duloxetine HCl DR 30 mg capsule | $0.102 per capsule | +31% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
Which prices fell most?
| Medicine | Description | Per unit | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dapagliflozin | Dapagliflozin 10 mg tablet | $0.184 per tablet | -98% |
| Prucalopride | Prucalopride 1 mg tablet | $0.639 per tablet | -95% |
| Dapagliflozin and metformin | Dapagliflozin-metformin ER 10-1,000 mg tablet | $0.720 per tablet | -94% |
| Dasatinib | Dasatinib 100 mg tablet | $26.46 per tablet | -86% |
| Rivaroxaban | Rivaroxaban 2.5 mg tablet | $0.650 per tablet | -81% |
| Temozolomide | Temozolomide 20 mg capsule | $0.880 per capsule | -79% |
| Ivabradine | Ivabradine HCl 5 mg tablet | $0.761 per tablet | -75% |
| Saxagliptin | Saxagliptin HCl 5 mg tablet | $1.04 per tablet | -74% |
| Fingolimod | Fingolimod 0.5 mg capsule | $1.58 per capsule | -72% |
| Teriflunomide | Teriflunomide 14 mg tablet | $0.233 per tablet | -68% |
| Tolvaptan | Tolvaptan 15 mg tablet | $14.57 per tablet | -68% |
| Tetracycline | Tetracycline 250 mg capsule | $0.247 per capsule | -65% |
| Formoterol | Formoterol 20 mcg/2 mL neb vial | $1.30 per mL | -64% |
| Sodium polystyrene sulfonate | Sodium polystyrene sulf powder | $0.155 per gram | -56% |
| Amcinonide | Amcinonide 0.1% cream | $4.90 per gram | -56% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
The lowest generic prices per unit
| Medicine | Description | Per unit | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride and sodium lactate | Lactated ringers injection | $0.0038 per mL | +32% |
| Magnesium sulfate | Epsom salt | $0.0039 per gram | -0.3% |
| Polyethylene glycol 3350, potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride | Peg 3350-electrolyte solution | $0.0046 per mL | -12% |
| Polyethylene glycol 3350, potassium chloride and 3 other ingredients | Peg-3350 and electrolytes solution | $0.0046 per mL | +4% |
| Hydrogen peroxide | Hydrogen peroxide 3% solution | $0.0063 per mL | +22% |
| Magnesium citrate | Magnesium citrate solution | $0.0066 per mL | +6% |
| Sodium phosphate dibasic and sodium phosphate monobasic | Enema ready to use | $0.0067 per mL | -6% |
| Chlorhexidine | Chlorhexidine 0.12% rinse | $0.0073 per mL | -2% |
| Coal tar | Thera-gel 0.5% shampoo | $0.0088 per mL | -6% |
| Petrolatum | Gnp petroleum jelly | $0.0091 per gram | +3% |
| Magnesium hydroxide | Milk of magnesia suspension | $0.0095 per mL | -2% |
| Mineral oil | Mineral oil | $0.0099 per mL | +25% |
| Amlodipine | Amlodipine besylate 5 mg tablet | $0.0102 per tablet | -10% |
| Hydrochlorothiazide | Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg tablet | $0.0115 per tablet | -7% |
| Phenol | Gnp sore throat 1.4% spray | $0.0124 per mL | -3% |
| Methylcellulose | Fiber therapy powder | $0.0135 per gram | -0.4% |
| Selenium sulfide | Anti-dandruff 1% shampoo | $0.0141 per mL | -8% |
| Aspirin | Aspirin ec 81 mg tablet | $0.0142 per tablet | -2% |
| Metformin | Metformin HCl 500 mg tablet | $0.0145 per tablet | -1% |
| Meloxicam | Meloxicam 7.5 mg tablet | $0.0166 per tablet | +0.8% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
What next?
- Brand vs generic prices
- the same strength, both prices
- Every price change
- with the data