Prednisone: here's the fair price
This is what US pharmacies pay, on average, for prednisone. Use it to spot a fair cash price, and feel good about asking for one.
Prednisone 5 Mg Tablet
A fair cash price is usually this cost plus a dispensing fee. If your quote is many times higher, ask about a generic, another pharmacy, or a cash discount.
Ask for generic Prednisone 5 Mg Tablet. Pharmacies pay about $1.11 for 30. Ask your pharmacy for its cash price and compare it with your copay. A fair cash price is close to this cost plus a dispensing fee.
Source: CMS NADAC as of 2026-11-04. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic is right for you.
Source: CMS NADAC weekly file as of 2026-11-04. Median across NDCs with the same description. Public domain.
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Every strength and form
| Product | Pharmacy cost | 30 count | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| PREDNISONE 5 MG TABLETGeneric | $0.04 per tablet or capsule | $1.11 | 10/21/2026 |
| PREDNISONE 1 MG TABLETGeneric | $0.04 per tablet or capsule | $1.19 | 10/21/2026 |
| PREDNISONE 10 MG TABLETGeneric | $0.05 per tablet or capsule | $1.56 | 10/21/2026 |
| PREDNISONE 2.5 MG TABLETGeneric | $0.06 per tablet or capsule | $1.91 | 10/21/2026 |
| PREDNISONE 20 MG TABLETGeneric | $0.06 per tablet or capsule | $1.94 | 10/21/2026 |
| PREDNISONE 50 MG TABLETGeneric | $0.17 per tablet or capsule | $5.01 | 10/21/2026 |
| PREDNISONE 5 MG TAB DOSE PACKGeneric | $0.33 per tablet or capsule | $9.98 | 10/21/2026 |
| PREDNISONE 5 MG/5 ML SOLUTIONGeneric | $0.52 per mL | n/a | 10/21/2026 |
| PREDNISONE 10 MG TAB DOSE PACKGeneric | $0.57 per tablet or capsule | $17.13 | 10/21/2026 |
| PREDNISONE INTENSOL 5 MG/MLGeneric | $3.25 per mL | n/a | 10/21/2026 |
Source: CMS NADAC, as of 2026-11-04. National average acquisition cost, not a retail quote.
Label basics
What it is used for (FDA label)
INDICATIONS Prednisone tablets are indicated in the following conditions: 1. Endocrine Disorders Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the first choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance) Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Hypercalcemia associated with cancer Nonsuppurative thyroiditis 2. Rheumatic Disorders As adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in: Psoriatic arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may...
Common side effects (FDA label)
ADVERSE REACTIONS Fluid and Electrolyte Disturbances Sodium retention Fluid retention Congestive heart failure in susceptible patients Potassium loss Hypokalemic alkalosis Hypertension Musculoskeletal Muscle weakness Steroid myopathy Loss of muscle mass Osteoporosis Tendon rupture, particularly of the Achilles tendon Vertebral compression fractures Aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads Pathologic fracture of long bones Gastrointestinal Peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage Pancreatitis Abdominal distention Ulcerative esophagitis Dermatologic Impaired wound healing Thin...
Warnings (from the label)
WARNINGS In patients on corticosteroid therapy subjected to unusual stress, increased dosage of rapidly acting corticosteroids before, during, and after the stressful situation is indicated. Corticosteroids may mask some signs of infection, and new infections may appear during their use. There may be decreased resistance and inability to localize infection when corticosteroids are used. Prolonged use of corticosteroids may produce posterior subcapsular cataracts, glaucoma with possible damage to the optic nerves, and may enhance the establishment of secondary ocular infections due to fungi or viruses. Usage in pregnancy Since adequate human reproduction studies have not been done with...
Source: FDA drug label via openFDA, label effective 2023-08-31. Full label on DailyMed. Excerpts are verbatim and truncated. Read the full label and ask your pharmacist.