Opioid pain relievers: Cost Comparison
Opioid analgesics treat moderate-to-severe pain and are controlled substances. This comparison covers the highest-volume Part D opioids; all carry dependence and overdose risk and are prescribed under tight clinical control.
Across these 4 drugs, average Medicare Part D spending per dosage unit ranges from $0.1109 (Tramadol HCl) to $0.3347 (Oxycodone-Acetaminophen) for calendar year 2024. Figures are real CMS open data, in US dollars.
How much do opioid pain relievers cost in the US?
As of calendar year 2024, average Medicare Part D spending per dosage unit for these 4 opioid pain relievers ranged from $0.1109 (Tramadol HCl) to $0.3347 (Oxycodone-Acetaminophen), per CMS open data. These are Medicare program spending figures per billing unit — not pharmacy cash prices, and not medical advice.
| Drug | Generic (active ingredient) | Avg Part D spending / dosage unit | 2024 Part D claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen | Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen | $0.2754 | 20,107,206 |
| Tramadol HCl | Tramadol HCl | $0.1109 | 12,939,330 |
| Oxycodone HCl | Oxycodone HCl | $0.1998 | 9,162,608 |
| Oxycodone-Acetaminophen | Oxycodone HCl/Acetaminophen | $0.3347 | 8,883,473 |
Figures are CMS’s own published Medicare Part D spending values (field Avg_Spnd_Per_Dsg_Unt_Wghtd_2024), reported unchanged. The most-prescribed drug in this group in 2024 was Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen (20.1 million claims). View the full dataset on CMS data.cms.gov.
Each drug in detail
Look up any Part D drug
Search the highest-volume Medicare Part D drugs by brand or generic name to see real average spending per dosage unit and 2024 claim volume.
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen
Hydrocodone/AcetaminophenThis is average Medicare Part D program spending per dosage unit, not a pharmacy cash price or a per-prescription cost. Information only — not medical advice and not a price quote.
Compare other drug classes
Frequently asked questions
- Which opioid pain relievers are compared here?
- This page compares 4 opioid pain relievers from the CMS Medicare Part D dataset (calendar year 2024): Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, Tramadol HCl, Oxycodone HCl, Oxycodone-Acetaminophen. Each is shown with its real average Medicare Part D spending per dosage unit in US dollars.
- What is the cheapest opioid pain reliever by Medicare spending per unit?
- Among these drugs, Tramadol HCl had the lowest average Medicare Part D spending per dosage unit at $0.1109 (calendar year 2024), and Oxycodone-Acetaminophen the highest at $0.3347. This is program spending per billing unit, not a retail price, and dosage units differ between drugs.
- Is this the price I would pay for opioid pain relievers?
- No. These figures are average Medicare Part D program spending per dosage unit from CMS open data, not a pharmacy cash price or per-prescription cost. What you pay depends on your pharmacy, insurance, manufacturer, dose and region. This is information only, not medical advice.
- Can a GeraClinic clinician help with moderate-to-severe pain?
- A GeraClinic clinician can review your medication for moderate-to-severe pain, explain the options, and issue or renew a prescription online where clinically appropriate. GeraClinic only lists independently verified, licensed clinicians.
Need help with moderate-to-severe pain?
A GeraClinic clinician can review your medication, explain the options, and issue or renew a prescription online where clinically appropriate — without travelling to a clinic.
Contains public sector information published by U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and licensed under the U.S. Government Works / Public Domain. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending by Drug (calendar year 2024, published 2026-06-25).
Informational/educational only — not a substitute for professional medical advice; a clinician interprets results.