DILAUDID vs EXALGO

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 19, 2026·How we rate

Attribute	DILAUDID	EXALGO
Rating	68/100	70/100
Pharmacy pays	$0.57 /mL	$0.57 /mL
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE	HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE
Manufacturer	Fresenius Kabi USA	Specgx LLC
Dosage forms	Injectable, Solution, Tablet	Tablet, extended release
Drug class	Opioid Agonist	Opioid Agonist
Boxed warning	Boxed warning	None
Half-life	about 2.3 hours (terminal elimination half-life after an intravenous dose); after an oral dose the label reports a mean T½ of about 2.6 hours for the 8 mg tablet and 2.8 hours for the oral liquid	about 2.3 hours (terminal elimination half-life after an intravenous dose); after an oral dose the label reports a mean T½ of about 2.6 hours for the 8 mg tablet and 2.8 hours for the oral liquid
Treats	Cough, Postoperative Pain	Cough, Postoperative Pain

dilaudid exalgo

Rating

68/100

70/100

Pharmacy pays

$0.57 /mL

Type

Active ingredient

HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE

Manufacturer

Fresenius Kabi USA

Specgx LLC

Dosage forms

Injectable, Solution, Tablet

Tablet, extended release

Drug class

Opioid Agonist

Boxed warning

None

Half-life

about 2.3 hours (terminal elimination half-life after an intravenous dose); after an oral dose the label reports a mean T½ of about 2.6 hours for the 8 mg tablet and 2.8 hours for the oral liquid

Treats

Cough, Postoperative Pain

Frequently asked questions

Which is better-rated, Dilaudid or Exalgo?

By our independent rating, Exalgo scores higher — 3.5 vs 3.4 out of 5 for Dilaudid. Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data.

Which is cheaper, Dilaudid or Exalgo?

Pharmacies pay about the same to acquire either one — roughly $0.57 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. That is not what you will be charged: your price is set by your insurer and the pharmacy, not by what the drug cost them.

What is the difference between Dilaudid and Exalgo?

Both Dilaudid and Exalgo share the active ingredient Hydromorphone Hydrochloride.

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.