AKTEN vs EXPAREL

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 16, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. AKTEN and EXPAREL 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	AKTEN	EXPAREL
Rating	70/100	70/100
Pharmacy pays	$0.24 /mL	$0.06 /mL
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	LIDOCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE	BUPIVACAINE
Manufacturer	Thea Pharma	Pacira Pharms Inc
Dosage forms	Topical	Injectable, Liposomal
Drug class	Amide Local Anesthetic	Amide Local Anesthetic
Boxed warning	None	None
Treats	Burns, Esophageal Diseases, Mouth Diseases	Postoperative Pain

akten exparel

Rating

70/100

Pharmacy pays

$0.24 /mL

$0.06 /mL

Type

Active ingredient

LIDOCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE

BUPIVACAINE

Manufacturer

Thea Pharma

Pacira Pharms Inc

Dosage forms

Topical

Injectable, Liposomal

Drug class

Amide Local Anesthetic

Boxed warning

None

Treats

Burns, Esophageal Diseases, Mouth Diseases

Postoperative Pain

Frequently asked questions

Which is better-rated, Akten or Exparel?

Akten and Exparel are tied at 3.5 out of 5 by our independent rating.

Which is cheaper, Akten or Exparel?

Exparel costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $0.06 vs $0.24 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 Akten and Exparel?

Akten contains Lidocaine Hydrochloride, while Exparel contains Bupivacaine — 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.