ACTIQ vs LOPERAMIDE HYDROCHLORIDE

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 23, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. ACTIQ and LOPERAMIDE HYDROCHLORIDE are different prescription medicines. Combining or switching between them can cause interactions — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber before making changes. This page is not medical advice.

Attribute	ACTIQ	LOPERAMIDE HYDROCHLORIDE
Rating	New	70/100
Pharmacy pays	$9.51 /mL	$0.05 /mL
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	FENTANYL CITRATE	LOPERAMIDE HYDROCHLORIDE
Manufacturer	Cephalon	Jubilant Cadista
Dosage forms	Lozenge	Capsule
Drug class	Opioid Agonist	Opioid Agonist
Boxed warning	Boxed warning	Boxed warning
Half-life	—	about 10.8 hours (range 9.1 to 14.4 hours)
Treats	Pain	Functional Colonic Diseases, Diarrhea, Bacillary Dysentery

actiq loperamide hydrochloride

Rating

New

70/100

Pharmacy pays

$9.51 /mL

$0.05 /mL

Type

Active ingredient

FENTANYL CITRATE

LOPERAMIDE HYDROCHLORIDE

Manufacturer

Cephalon

Jubilant Cadista

Dosage forms

Lozenge

Capsule

Drug class

Opioid Agonist

Boxed warning

Half-life

—

about 10.8 hours (range 9.1 to 14.4 hours)

Treats

Pain

Functional Colonic Diseases, Diarrhea, Bacillary Dysentery

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Actiq or Loperamide Hydrochloride?

Loperamide Hydrochloride costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $0.05 vs $9.51 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. That gap is in the pharmacy's cost of goods, not necessarily in what you pay: your price is set afterwards by your insurer and the pharmacy.

What is the difference between Actiq and Loperamide Hydrochloride?

Actiq contains Fentanyl Citrate, while Loperamide Hydrochloride contains Loperamide Hydrochloride — they have different active ingredients.

Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.