Fentanyl Prices | Street Value & Prescription Cost

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid analgesic (painkiller). The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies Fentanyl as a schedule II controlled substance. That means it has a high potential for abuse. It’s also a top contributor to drug overdose deaths.

The price of fentanyl depends on a number of factors, including whether you buy it off the street or get it from your doctor.

Fentanyl Street Value

Like other opioids, fentanyl can make you feel relaxed and happy, or “high.” That’s why it often appears on the street. Street fentanyl resembles an off-white to light brown powder.

Most drug traffickers sell fentanyl by the gram. In general, a single gram of fentanyl costs between $150 and $200.

The drug may be cheaper if you live near a big city. That’s because most big cities are home to drug cartels. The higher supply of street drugs in these areas typically leads to lower prices.

Fentanyl Prescription Cost

Doctors prescribe fentanyl to treat various types of pain, including cancer pain, chronic pain, and post-surgery pain.

The cost of prescription fentanyl depends on the formulation and dosage. The drug comes in three main formulations:

• a fentanyl lozenge attached to a handle (sold under the brand name Actiq)
• a fentanyl patch (sold under the brand name Duragesic)
• a fentanyl tablet (sold under the brand name Fentora)

The average cost of Actiq is:

• $150 for 30 200mcg lozenges
• $200 for 30 400mcg lozenges
• $250 for 30 600mcg lozenges
• $300 for 30 850mcg lozenges
• $350 for 30 1200mcg lozenges
• $400 for 30 1600mcg lozenges

The average cost of Duragesic is:

• $100 for 1 carton of 5 patches of 12mcg/hr
• $300 for 1 carton of 5 patches of 37.5mcg/hr
• $300 for 1 carton of 5 patches of 75mcg/hr

The average cost of Fentora is:

• $2,000 for 30 100mcg tablets
• $2,500 for 30 200mcg tablets
• $3,500 for 30 400mcg tablets
• $5,000 for 30 600mcg tablets
• $6,000 for 30 800mcg tablets

The exact price will depend on the pharmacy and your insurance.

Dangers Of Fentanyl Abuse

You should only use fentanyl as directed by a prescribing physician. That’s because the drug is extremely powerful.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s up to 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine. Even a small amount of fentanyl can cause overdose or addiction.

Fentanyl Overdose

Because they’re so powerful, synthetic opioids like fentanyl are involved in the majority of opioid overdose deaths. A fentanyl overdose occurs when the drug causes life-threatening symptoms, such as:

• slowed or stopped breathing
• slowed or stopped heartbeat
• drowsiness
• dizziness
• nausea and vomiting
• pale, clammy, or bluish skin
• bluish lips and fingernails
• change in pupil size
• loss of consciousness

If you or someone you know displays these symptoms, seek medical help immediately. Administer naloxone if you have it.

Naloxone, which is sold under the brand name Narcan, is a medication that can quickly reverse the effects of an fentanyl overdose. You can get it at most pharmacies without a prescription.

Any type of illicit drug use can lead to a fentanyl overdose. That’s because many drug dealers secretly add fentanyl to other drugs to provide a more intense high and decrease production costs (since fentanyl is cheap to make).
According to law enforcement and public health officials, fentanyl may appear in numerous substances sold on the street, including:

• illegal drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin
• prescription opioids like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and tramadol
• other prescription drugs, including benzodiazepines (such as Xanax and Klonopin) and prescription stimulants (such as Adderall and Ritalin)

Fentanyl Addiction

Many people who use fentanyl will become addicted to it. Common symptoms of addiction (also called substance use disorder) include:

• mood swings
• intense drug cravings
• loss of motivation
• loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
• tolerance (needing increasingly larger or more frequent doses of a drug to feel high)
• physical dependence (experiencing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating or trouble sleeping, when you don’t use drugs)

People who live with fentanyl addiction should seek help at a drug addiction treatment program. These programs offer evidence-based treatments such as:

• medical detox, in which healthcare providers help you slowly and safely stop using fentanyl
• mental health counseling, in which you can learn to manage fentanyl cravings and cope with any underlying stressors that contributed to your use of fentanyl
• support groups, in which you can discuss your struggles with other people recovering from substance abuse
• medication-assisted treatments, in which doctors prescribe FDA-approved medications (such as methadone and buprenorphine) to ease cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid use disorder

If you or someone you know struggles with fentanyl, please contact Northeast Addictions Treatment Center. We offer comprehensive, personalized treatment plans to help you leave your drug abuse in the past.