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

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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.

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🟢 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.

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🟡 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.

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🔵 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.

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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.

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Continue to: Part 51B: Gabapentinoids, Muscle Relaxants & Stimulants | Part 51C: Antihistamines, Anticholinergics, Antidepressants & Steroids

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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).