Dilaudid vs. its authorized generic and generics

Strength How many

How to pay the least

From

$6.56 for 30 tablets

Generic hydromorphone at Walgreens with the free Optum Perks coupon. Pick the strength on your label above for its own price.

Get the free Optum Perks coupon from its page. There’s nothing to sign up for.Get the free Optum Perks coupon
Ask your prescriber to send the prescription to your nearest Walgreens.Find the nearest store
Show the coupon and ask for generic hydromorphone. It can’t be used with insurance.

Call ahead Before your prescriber sends it, ask the pharmacy whether it has it in stock. A Schedule II prescription is hard to move to another pharmacy.

A regular generic has the same active ingredient as Dilaudid, and the FDA requires it to work the same way.

Compare every option

Brand nameDilaudid

Authorized generichydromorphone

Regular generichydromorphone

What you’d pay

Cash priceAsk the pharmacyUsually the highest price

Cash priceAsk the pharmacyUsually among the lowest

From$6.56for 30 tablets at Walgreens + Optum Perks

Same as Dilaudid?

The original

Same medicine

Same active ingredientFillers and dyes can differ

Brand nameNo maker’s card

We didn’t find a savings card or cash price from Dilaudid’s maker. Ask the pharmacy for Dilaudid’s cash price. With insurance, ask what your plan charges.

Authorized genericThe NDC to ask for

The same medicine as Dilaudid, without the brand name. Give the pharmacy its NDC to get it.

hydromorphone

Sold by (either works)

Fresenius KabiThe company behind Dilaudid
Rhodes PharmaceuticalsThe company behind Dilaudid

Your strength

NDC to ask for

1 mg/mLinjectionFresenius Kabi
- 63323-852-2511-digit: 63323-0852-2525 single-dose vials, 1 mL each
2 mg/mLinjectionFresenius Kabi
- 63323-853-2511-digit: 63323-0853-2525 single-dose vials, 1 mL each
2 mgtabletRhodes Pharmaceuticals
- 42858-301-0111-digit: 42858-0301-01100 tablets per bottle
- 42858-301-2511-digit: 42858-0301-254 blister packs of 25 tablets
4 mg/mLinjectionFresenius Kabi
- 63323-854-1011-digit: 63323-0854-1025 single-dose vials, 1 mL each
4 mgtabletRhodes Pharmaceuticals
- 42858-302-0111-digit: 42858-0302-01100 tablets per bottle
- 42858-302-2511-digit: 42858-0302-254 blister packs of 25 tablets
- 42858-302-5011-digit: 42858-0302-50500 tablets per bottle
5 mg/5 mLsolutionRhodes Pharmaceuticals
- 42858-304-1611-digit: 42858-0304-16473 mL per bottle
8 mgtabletRhodes Pharmaceuticals
- 42858-303-0111-digit: 42858-0303-01100 tablets per bottle
10 mg/mLinjectionFresenius Kabi
- 63323-851-1011-digit: 63323-0851-1010 single-dose vials, 1 mL each
- 63323-851-1511-digit: 63323-0851-1510 single-dose vials, 5 mL each
- 63323-851-5011-digit: 63323-0851-5050 mL per single-dose vial

Source: FDA, updated October 30, 2026

What to say at the pharmacy

“Before you fill my Dilaudid, can you tell me what I’d pay for the brand, for the authorized generic, and for a regular generic?”

Paying cash? Ask for each one’s cash price. With insurance, ask what your plan charges for each.

Brand and authorized generic labels

Official labels and ingredient lists from DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine).

10 mg/mL injection · Fresenius Kabi

Dilaudid doesn’t come in this strength, so there’s no brand label to compare.

Authorized generic package label from Fresenius Kabi — Authorized genericFresenius Kabi

See the ingredients

Active: hydromorphone hydrochloride 10 mg/mL

Inactive:

Citric acid monohydrate
Sodium citrate

1 mg/mL injection · Fresenius Kabi

Same active ingredient. A few inactive ingredients are listed differently (below). Ask your pharmacist if that matters for you, for example with an allergy.

See the ingredients

Active: hydromorphone hydrochloride 1 mg/mL

Inactive, on both labels:

Citric acid monohydrate
Sodium citrate

Only on Dilaudid’s label: Water

2 mg/mL injection · Fresenius Kabi

Same active ingredient. A few inactive ingredients are listed differently (below). Ask your pharmacist if that matters for you, for example with an allergy.

See the ingredients

Active: hydromorphone hydrochloride 2 mg/mL

Inactive, on both labels:

Citric acid monohydrate
Sodium citrate

Only on Dilaudid’s label: Water

4 mg/mL injection · Fresenius Kabi

Dilaudid doesn’t come in this strength, so there’s no brand label to compare.

See the ingredients

Active: hydromorphone hydrochloride 4 mg/mL

Inactive:

Citric acid monohydrate
Sodium citrate

2 mg tablet · Rhodes Pharmaceuticals

Same active and inactive ingredients as Dilaudid.

Authorized generic package label from Rhodes Pharmaceuticals — Authorized genericRhodes Pharmaceuticals

See the ingredients

Active: hydromorphone hydrochloride 2 mg

Inactive, on both labels:

Anhydrous lactose
D&C Red No. 30
D&C Yellow No. 10
Magnesium stearate
Sodium metabisulfite

4 mg tablet · Rhodes Pharmaceuticals

Same active and inactive ingredients as Dilaudid.

See the ingredients

Active: hydromorphone hydrochloride 4 mg

Inactive, on both labels:

Anhydrous lactose
D&C Yellow No. 10
Magnesium stearate
Sodium metabisulfite

8 mg tablet · Rhodes Pharmaceuticals

Same active and inactive ingredients as Dilaudid.

See the ingredients

Active: hydromorphone hydrochloride 8 mg

Inactive, on both labels:

Anhydrous lactose
Magnesium stearate
Sodium metabisulfite

5 mg/5 mL solution · Rhodes Pharmaceuticals

Same active and inactive ingredients as Dilaudid.

See the ingredients

Active: hydromorphone hydrochloride 5 mg/5 mL

Inactive, on both labels:

Glycerin
Methylparaben
Propylparaben
Sodium metabisulfite
Sucrose
Water

Regular genericWhere to buy it

Pharmacies’ own cash prices for generic hydromorphone, lowest first.

Pick up in store

Pick up in store: Walgreens + Optum Perks $6.56for 30 tablets2 mgFree Optum Perks coupon · not with insuranceFind the nearest store
Pick up in store: Target (CVS) + Optum Perks $13.16for 30 tablets2 mgFree Optum Perks coupon · not with insuranceFind the nearest store
Pick up in store: CVS Pharmacy + Optum Perks $22.59for 30 tablets2 mgFree Optum Perks coupon · not with insuranceFind the nearest store
Pick up in store: Costco $25.79for 30 tablets2 mgMembers only · $65 a yearFind the nearest store

From each pharmacy’s own site, read November 2, 2026. Confirm the price before you fill.

About these prices

Prices change, can differ by store and state, and may depend on the strength and how many you take. With insurance, ask what your plan charges; it can be less.

Regular genericWho makes it

5 companies sell a generic of Dilaudid that the FDA rates a substitute. A pharmacy fills whichever one it stocks. To get a certain maker, ask for it by name; most pharmacies can order it in a day or two.

Aurolife PharmaTablet 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg

Has lactose · Has dyes: D&C Red No. 30, D&C Yellow No. 10

How it looks, what’s in it, NDCs

2 mg Light orange, round, 6 mm, marked “U / 44”

Package NDC
Bottle of 20 13107-107-20
Bottle of 100 13107-107-01
Bottle of 500 13107-107-05
Bottle of 1000 13107-107-99

4 mg Light yellow, round, 6 mm, marked “U / 45”

Package NDC
Bottle of 20 13107-108-20
Bottle of 100 13107-108-01
Bottle of 500 13107-108-05
Bottle of 1000 13107-108-99

8 mg White to off-white, round, 8 mm, marked “U46”

Package NDC
Bottle of 20 13107-109-20
Bottle of 100 13107-109-01
Bottle of 500 13107-109-05
Bottle of 1000 13107-109-99

Inactive ingredients: anhydrous lactose, cellulose, microcrystalline, sodium starch glycolate type a potato, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, D&C Yellow No. 10, D&C Red No. 30
FDA label
Hikma PharmaceuticalsInjection 0.2 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/0.5 mL, 1 mg/mL, 2 mg/mL · Solution 1 mg/mL

Has a dye: FD&C Red No. 40

How it looks, what’s in it, NDCs

0.2 mg/mL

Package NDC
Carton of 10 mL 0641-6259-10

0.5 mg/0.5 mL

Package NDC
Carton of 5 mL 0641-6206-10

1 mg/mL Clear

Package NDC
Bottle of 473 mL 0054-0386-63

1 mg/mL

Package NDC
Carton of 10 mL 0641-6169-10

2 mg/mL

Package NDC
Carton of 25 mL 0641-6151-25

Inactive ingredients: sodium citrate, citric acid monohydrate, water, FD&C Red No. 40, methylparaben, propylene glycol, propylparaben, raspberry, saccharin sodium anhydrous, sorbitol
FDA label
HospiraSolution 10 mg/mL

How it looks, what’s in it, NDCs

10 mg/mL

Package NDC
Box of 10 mL 0409-2634-01
Box of 50 mL 0409-2634-05
Box of 50 mL 0409-2634-50

Inactive ingredients: sodium citrate form, citric acid monohydrate
FDA label
SpecGxTablet 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg

Has lactose

How it looks, what’s in it, NDCs

2 mg Off-white, round, 6 mm, marked “M / 2”

Package NDC
Bottle of 100 0406-3243-01

4 mg Off-light, round, 7 mm, marked “M / 4”

Package NDC
Bottle of 100 0406-3244-01

8 mg Off-white, triangle, 8 mm, marked “M / 8”

Package NDC
Bottle of 100 0406-3249-01

Inactive ingredients: lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, microcrystalline cellulose
FDA label
Teva Parenteral MedicinesSolution 10 mg/mL

Made by Hospira

How it looks, what’s in it, NDCs

10 mg/mL

Package NDC
Carton of 50 mL 0703-0018-01

10 mg/mL

Package NDC
Carton of 10 mL 0703-0110-03

10 mg/mL

Package NDC
Carton of 50 mL 0703-0113-03

Inactive ingredients: sodium citrate form, citric acid monohydrate
FDA label

Package	NDC
Bottle of 20	13107-107-20
Bottle of 100	13107-107-01
Bottle of 500	13107-107-05
Bottle of 1000	13107-107-99

Package	NDC
Bottle of 20	13107-108-20
Bottle of 100	13107-108-01
Bottle of 500	13107-108-05
Bottle of 1000	13107-108-99

Package	NDC
Bottle of 20	13107-109-20
Bottle of 100	13107-109-01
Bottle of 500	13107-109-05
Bottle of 1000	13107-109-99

Package	NDC
Carton of 10 mL	0641-6259-10

Package	NDC
Carton of 5 mL	0641-6206-10

Package	NDC
Bottle of 473 mL	0054-0386-63

Package	NDC
Carton of 10 mL	0641-6169-10

Package	NDC
Carton of 25 mL	0641-6151-25

Package	NDC
Box of 10 mL	0409-2634-01
Box of 50 mL	0409-2634-05
Box of 50 mL	0409-2634-50

Package	NDC
Bottle of 100	0406-3243-01

Package	NDC
Bottle of 100	0406-3244-01

Package	NDC
Bottle of 100	0406-3249-01

Package	NDC
Carton of 50 mL	0703-0018-01

Package	NDC
Carton of 10 mL	0703-0110-03

Package	NDC
Carton of 50 mL	0703-0113-03

Who sells it: FDA and Medicaid records, updated weekly. Each maker’s page, card and program is from its own site.

What it’s used for

Severe pain that needs an opioid

What the FDA label says

DILAUDID INJECTION is an opioid agonist indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternate treatments are inadequate.

Limitations of Use:

Because of the risks of addiction, abuse, misuse, overdose, and death, which can occur at any dosage or duration and persist over the course of therapy, reserve opioid analgesics, including DILAUDID INJECTION, for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are ineffective, not tolerated, or would be otherwise inadequate to provide sufficient management of pain.

Source: the FDA label for Dilaudid (Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC), July 15, 2026. Full label on DailyMed

Good to know

It may look different from Dilaudid (color, shape, or markings). That’s normal for an authorized generic.
If your prescription says “dispense as written,” the pharmacy needs your prescriber’s OK to give you the authorized generic.
Cash prices can differ a lot from one pharmacy to the next, so it can pay to ask two. With insurance, what you pay depends on your plan.
Don’t stop or change a medicine without talking to your pharmacist or prescriber.

Prices checked November 2, 2026. Prices change: confirm with the pharmacy before you fill. drugalt.com/drug/dilaudid/