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Drug Pricing & Generic Savings

NADAC acquisition costs for 572+ medications. Compare brand vs generic prices. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

572

Drugs with Pricing

500

Generic Available

85%

Avg. Generic Savings

1144

Current Shortages

Biggest Generic Savings

Drugs where switching from brand to generic saves the most per unit.

Drug Brand/Unit Generic/Unit Savings
naltrexone $1578.75 $0.98 100% off
methotrexate $470.62 $0.16 100% off
clindamycin $58.78 $0.16 100% off
tadalafil $54.23 $0.10 100% off
medroxyprogesterone $53.04 $0.13 100% off
anastrozole $51.78 $0.14 100% off
acyclovir $38.30 $0.08 100% off
lorazepam $32.81 $0.04 100% off
olanzapine $22.81 $0.10 100% off
topiramate $17.12 $0.06 100% off
donepezil $16.20 $0.05 100% off
celecoxib $15.74 $0.07 100% off
escitalopram $14.05 $0.04 100% off
atenolol $12.82 $0.04 100% off
lisinopril $12.67 $0.02 100% off
atorvastatin $12.43 $0.03 100% off
amlodipine $11.12 $0.02 100% off
lamotrigine $10.62 $0.04 100% off
tamsulosin $9.35 $0.05 100% off
citalopram $9.06 $0.02 100% off

Most Expensive Brand Drugs

Highest NADAC per-unit cost for brand-name medications.

Drug Brand/Unit Generic/Unit Generic?
ustekinumab $26794.63 No
risankizumab $20211.78 No
guselkumab $13350.90 No
secukinumab $7206.70 No
golimumab $6818.88 No
ixekizumab $6681.55 No
certolizumab $5525.40 No
adalimumab $3361.23 No
etanercept $1853.56 No
sarilumab $1852.54 No
teriparatide $1726.47 $832.72 Yes
denosumab $1723.69 No
growth hormone $1715.73 No
abaloparatide $1646.36 No
dupilumab $1608.24 No
naltrexone $1578.75 $0.98 Yes
abatacept $1383.49 No
infliximab $1135.97 No
sofosbuvir/velpatasvir $862.51 No
tirzepatide $515.85 No

Cheapest Generic Medications

Lowest cost-per-unit generic drugs available.

Drug Generic/Unit
magnesium oxide <$0.01
guaifenesin $0.01
lactulose $0.01
diphenhydramine $0.01
aspirin $0.02
amlodipine $0.02
zinc sulfate $0.02
cyclobenzaprine $0.02
amoxicillin $0.02
lisinopril $0.02
alprazolam $0.02
carvedilol $0.02
folic acid $0.02
cetirizine $0.02
ibuprofen $0.02
citalopram $0.02
senna $0.02
atorvastatin $0.03
hydralazine $0.03
loperamide $0.03

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NADAC?
NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) is the average price that pharmacies pay to acquire medications. Published by CMS, it represents wholesale acquisition costs — not what you pay at the pharmacy counter, but a useful benchmark for comparing drug costs.
Why are generic drugs so much cheaper?
Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as brand-name versions but cost less because manufacturers don't need to repeat expensive clinical trials. Once patents expire, multiple companies can produce the drug, creating price competition.
How often is pricing data updated?
NADAC pricing data is published weekly by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Our database reflects the latest available pricing snapshot.
Can I use this to estimate my prescription cost?
NADAC shows what pharmacies pay, not what consumers pay. Your actual cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, coupons, and other factors. Use these prices as relative comparisons between drugs.

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Disclaimer: Prices shown are NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) — the average wholesale price pharmacies pay. Your actual cost at the pharmacy will differ based on insurance, copays, pharmacy markup, and available discounts. This data is provided for informational comparison only. Always consult your pharmacist for actual pricing.