Part 51A: Jan Aushadhi MRP Reference
Opioids, Benzodiazepines, Z-Drugs & Barbiturates
This article is part of the Substance Use Education India series. All prices are raw pack-level MRP (not per-unit) from the official PMBJP product list. Data verified May 2026.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance dependence, contact the National Drug De-Addiction Helpline: 14446
Why This Reference Exists
The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) operates 12,000+ Jan Aushadhi Kendras across India, providing WHO-GMP certified generic medicines at 50–90% lower prices than branded equivalents. Many of the substances covered in our 50-part series are available through this program at remarkably low costs.
This three-part MRP guide (51A, 51B, 51C) serves as a quick-reference price card for every substance from our series that appears in the Jan Aushadhi catalogue. The purpose is purely educational — to demonstrate the extreme affordability of these medications through government channels, and to highlight why diversion and illicit resale remain persistent public health threats.
[!IMPORTANT] All prices below are the MRP for the entire pack — not per tablet or per ml. For example, ₹4.13 for Alprazolam 0.25 mg buys you a strip of 10 tablets. That is ₹0.41 per tablet.
🟢 Category 1: Opioid Analgesics
Refer to Part 2 (Tramadol) and Part 3 (Tapentadol) for full pharmacology.
Tramadol and Tapentadol are the only opioid-class substances from our series available in the PMBJP catalogue. Stronger opioids (Codeine, Morphine, Fentanyl, Buprenorphine, Methadone) are intentionally excluded from the program to prevent public-sector diversion.
Tramadol Formulations
| Full Name | Pack Size | MRP (₹) | Per-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tramadol HCl Injection 50 mg | 1 ml | 4.69 | ₹4.69/ml |
| Tramadol HCl Injection 100 mg | 2 ml | 7.50 | ₹3.75/ml |
| Tramadol Tablets 50 mg | 10's | 7.50 | ₹0.75/tab |
| Paracetamol 162.5 mg + Tramadol 18.75 mg Tablet | 10's | 9.38 | ₹0.94/tab |
| Paracetamol 325 mg + Tramadol 37.5 mg Tablets | 10's | 12.38 | ₹1.24/tab |
| Tramadol HCl (IR) 50 mg + Diclofenac Na (SR) 75 mg | 10's | 18.75 | ₹1.88/tab |
| Tramadol Prolonged Release Tablets IP 100 mg | 10's | 32.82 | ₹3.28/tab |
One-Liner: A full strip of 10 Tramadol 50 mg tablets costs just ₹7.50 at Jan Aushadhi — cheaper than a cup of chai at most railway stations. This extreme affordability is why Tramadol remains India's most diverted synthetic opioid.
Tapentadol Formulations
| Full Name | Pack Size | MRP (₹) | Per-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tapentadol 50 mg Tablets | 10's | 30.00 | ₹3.00/tab |
| Tapentadol 100 mg Extended Release Tablets | 10's | 60.94 | ₹6.09/tab |
One-Liner: Tapentadol ER 100 mg — the "dual-mechanism" opioid — costs ₹6.09 per tablet at Jan Aushadhi vs ₹25–40 per tablet for branded Nucynta equivalents.
[!WARNING] Tramadol lowers the seizure threshold. Doses above 400 mg/day or combining with SSRIs/SNRIs can trigger fatal seizures and serotonin syndrome. See Part 2.
🟡 Category 2: Benzodiazepines
The largest category in this guide. Benzodiazepines are covered in Parts 8–15 of our series.
A. Alprazolam (Part 8)
| Full Name | Pack Size | MRP (₹) | Per-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alprazolam Tablets IP 0.25 mg | 10's | 4.13 | ₹0.41/tab |
| Alprazolam Tablets IP 0.5 mg | 10's | 7.22 | ₹0.72/tab |
| Alprazolam 0.25 mg + Fluoxetine 20 mg Tablets | 10's | 13.13 | ₹1.31/tab |
| Alprazolam 0.25 mg + Propranolol HCl 10 mg Tablets | 10's | 14.07 | ₹1.41/tab |
| Alprazolam 0.25 mg + Propranolol HCl 20 mg Tablets | 10's | 15.00 | ₹1.50/tab |
| Alprazolam 0.5 mg + Sertraline HCl 25 mg Tablets | 10's | 23.44 | ₹2.34/tab |
| Alprazolam 0.5 mg + Sertraline HCl 50 mg Tablets | 10's | 32.82 | ₹3.28/tab |
One-Liner: The infamous "Kutta Goli" — Alprazolam 0.25 mg — costs ₹0.41 per tablet. Less than half a rupee for a potent anxiolytic that can cause fatal withdrawal seizures if stopped abruptly.
B. Diazepam (Part 9)
| Full Name | Pack Size | MRP (₹) | Per-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diazepam Tablets IP 2 mg | 10's | 6.57 | ₹0.66/tab |
| Diazepam Tablets IP 5 mg | 10's | 5.63 | ₹0.56/tab |
| Diazepam Tablets IP 10 mg | 10's | 18.75 | ₹1.88/tab |
| Diazepam Injection IP 5 mg/ml | 2 ml | 7.50 | ₹3.75/ml |
One-Liner: The "Father of Benzodiazepines" — Diazepam 5 mg costs just ₹0.56 per tablet. Paradoxically, the 2 mg tablet (₹0.66) costs more per tablet than the 5 mg (₹0.56) due to different pack-level MRP calculations.
C. Clonazepam (Part 10)
| Full Name | Pack Size | MRP (₹) | Per-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clonazepam Tablets IP 0.5 mg | 10's | 5.16 | ₹0.52/tab |
| Clonazepam Tablets IP 1 mg | 10's | 8.25 | ₹0.83/tab |
| Clonazepam MDT 0.25 mg | 10's | 9.38 | ₹0.94/tab |
| Escitalopram 5 mg + Clonazepam 0.5 mg Tablets IP | 10's | 13.41 | ₹1.34/tab |
| Escitalopram 10 mg + Clonazepam 0.5 mg Tablets IP | 10's | 14.07 | ₹1.41/tab |
| Desvenlafaxine ER 50 mg + Clonazepam 0.5 mg | 10's | 30.94 | ₹3.09/tab |
| Paroxetine ER 12.5 mg + Clonazepam 0.25 mg | 10's | 37.50 | ₹3.75/tab |
| Desvenlafaxine ER 100 mg + Clonazepam 0.5 mg | 10's | 56.25 | ₹5.63/tab |
One-Liner: Clonazepam has the most combination formulations in the PMBJP catalogue — 8 entries spanning solo tablets to SSRI/SNRI combos. At ₹0.52/tablet for 0.5 mg, it is the cheapest high-potency benzodiazepine available in India.
D. Lorazepam (Part 11)
| Full Name | Pack Size | MRP (₹) | Per-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorazepam Tablets IP 1 mg | 10's | 10.32 | ₹1.03/tab |
| Lorazepam Tablets IP 2 mg | 10's | 11.25 | ₹1.13/tab |
| Lorazepam Tablets IP 3 mg | 10's | 16.88 | ₹1.69/tab |
One-Liner: Lorazepam — the hospital-standard benzodiazepine for acute agitation — is available in all three oral strengths (1, 2, 3 mg) at Jan Aushadhi for under ₹2 per tablet.
E. Nitrazepam (Part 12)
| Full Name | Pack Size | MRP (₹) | Per-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrazepam Tablets IP 10 mg | 10's | 8.44 | ₹0.84/tab |
One-Liner: Nitrazepam 10 mg — a potent long-acting hypnotic — costs ₹0.84 per tablet. Its chronic use leads to severe rebound insomnia and cognitive impairment.
F. Midazolam (Part 13)
| Full Name | Pack Size | MRP (₹) | Per-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midazolam Injection 10 mg | 10 ml vial | 28.13 | ₹2.81/ml |
One-Liner: The "Amnesia Agent" — Midazolam Injection 10 mg/10 ml — is available for ₹28.13 per vial. Primarily used in ICU sedation and procedural anesthesia, its amnestic properties make it a date-rape drug risk.
G. Chlordiazepoxide (Part 14)
| Full Name | Pack Size | MRP (₹) | Per-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlordiazepoxide 5 mg + Clidinium 2.5 mg Tablets | 10's | 8.44 | ₹0.84/tab |
| Chlordiazepoxide 5 mg + Amitriptyline 12.5 mg Tablets | 10's | 8.44 | ₹0.84/tab |
| Amitriptyline 25 mg + Chlordiazepoxide 10 mg Tablets | 10's | 9.38 | ₹0.94/tab |
| Clidinium 2.5 mg + Chlordiazepoxide 5 mg + Dicyclomine 10 mg | 10's | 13.13 | ₹1.31/tab |
| Chlordiazepoxide 10 mg + Trifluoperazine 1 mg Tablets | 10's | 14.07 | ₹1.41/tab |
| Chlordiazepoxide Tablets IP 10 mg | 10's | 19.69 | ₹1.97/tab |
| Chlordiazepoxide Tablets IP 25 mg | 10's | 23.44 | ₹2.34/tab |
| Mebeverine 135 mg + Chlordiazepoxide 5 mg Tablets | 10's | 28.13 | ₹2.81/tab |
One-Liner: The "First Benzodiazepine" — Chlordiazepoxide appears in 8 PMBJP formulations. Notably, the solo tablets (10 mg, 25 mg) are more expensive per unit than most combination formulations containing it.
H. Clobazam (Part 15)
| Full Name | Pack Size | MRP (₹) | Per-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clobazam Tablet IP 5 mg | 10's | 14.07 | ₹1.41/tab |
| Clobazam Tablets IP 10 mg | 15's | 30.00 | ₹2.00/tab |
One-Liner: Clobazam — the pediatric-preferred anticonvulsant — costs ₹1.41 to ₹2.00 per tablet. It has a milder sedation profile than other benzos but still carries dependence risk with chronic use.
🔵 Category 3: Z-Drugs & Barbiturates
A. Zolpidem (Part 16)
| Full Name | Pack Size | MRP (₹) | Per-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zolpidem Tablets IP 5 mg | 10's | 9.38 | ₹0.94/tab |
| Zolpidem Tablets IP 10 mg | 10's | 16.88 | ₹1.69/tab |
One-Liner: Zolpidem 10 mg — the most prescribed sleeping pill in India — costs ₹1.69 per tablet at Jan Aushadhi. Its "sleep-driving" and "sleep-eating" side effects have made international headlines.
B. Phenobarbitone (Part 19)
| Full Name | Pack Size | MRP (₹) | Per-Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phenobarbitone Tablets IP 30 mg | 30's | 15.94 | ₹0.53/tab |
| Phenobarbitone Tablets IP 60 mg | 30's | 26.25 | ₹0.88/tab |
One-Liner: Phenobarbitone — one of the oldest anticonvulsants still in use — costs ₹0.53 per tablet for 30 mg. Its 30-tablet pack size reflects its role in chronic epilepsy maintenance. Barbiturate withdrawal can be fatal.
[!CAUTION] Benzodiazepine and Barbiturate withdrawal can be FATAL. Unlike opioid withdrawal (which is agonizing but rarely deadly), abruptly stopping these sedatives can trigger Status Epilepticus — continuous seizures that can cause brain damage or death. Never stop these medications without medical supervision.
Summary Statistics — Part 51A
| Substance Class | Formulations in PMBJP | Price Range (Pack MRP) |
|---|---|---|
| Opioid Analgesics | 9 | ₹4.69 – ₹60.94 |
| Benzodiazepines | 33 | ₹4.13 – ₹56.25 |
| Z-Drugs | 2 | ₹9.38 – ₹16.88 |
| Barbiturates | 2 | ₹15.94 – ₹26.25 |
| Total | 46 | ₹4.13 – ₹60.94 |
The cheapest substance in this category: Alprazolam 0.25 mg at ₹0.41 per tablet.
The most expensive substance in this category: Tapentadol 100 mg ER at ₹6.09 per tablet.
Continue to: Part 51B: Gabapentinoids, Muscle Relaxants & Stimulants | Part 51C: Antihistamines, Anticholinergics, Antidepressants & Steroids
Disclaimer: This article is for clinical and educational purposes only. All substances listed are prescription medications that must only be used under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner. Prices sourced from the official PMBJP product list (May 2026).
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