Key takeaways
Generic promethazine DM, a cold and allergy medicine and cough suppressant, costs about $38 without insurance.
Insurance often covers promethazine DM, but Medicare Part D may not.
A SingleCare discount card, over-the-counter alternatives, and comparing prices at different pharmacies can provide savings for those without insurance.
Promethazine DM is a prescription cold, allergy, and cough medicine made of two primary medications: promethazine and dextromethorphan. Promethazine is an antihistamine that relieves symptoms such as a runny nose and sneezing due to colds or allergies. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant that is chemically similar to codeine but is not considered an opioid. Although promethazine DM is a lower-priced prescription drug, there are ways to save, even without insurance.
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How much does promethazine DM cost without insurance?
Without insurance, a bottle containing 120 mL of promethazine DM syrup costs about $38. The standard concentration is 6.25 mg of promethazine and 15 mg of dextromethorphan for every 5 mL (one teaspoon) of syrup. 120 milliliters should be enough medicine for 24 teaspoon-sized doses. Each dose costs over $1, and a day’s treatment with promethazine DM will cost $4–$6, depending on whether doses are taken three or four times a day.
Compare promethazine DM prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Promethazine DM | $38 for 120 mL of 6.25-15 mg/5 mL syrup | $5 for 120 mL of 6.25-15 mg/5 mL syrup of generic promethazine DM at Kroger or Harris Teeter | See latest prices |
| Mucinex DM (guaifenesin-dextromethorphan) | $37 for 1 box of 20 tablets | $16 for 1 box of 20 tablets of brand-name Mucinex DM at Kroger or Harris Teeter | See latest prices |
| Promethazine with codeine | $37 for 120 mL of 6.25-10 mg/5 mL solution | $15 for 120 mL of 6.25-10 mg/5 mL solution of generic promethazine with codeine at Food Lion | See latest prices |
| Benzonatate | $64 for 30, 100 mg capsules | $10 for 30, 100 mg capsules of generic benzonatate at Kroger or Harris Teeter | See latest prices |
Promethazine DM alternatives
There are less expensive self-pay alternatives. Prescription alternatives that are less commonly prescribed include promethazine-codeine and chlorpheniramine-hydrocodone. As an opioid, codeine causes more sedation than dextromethorphan. Benzonatate is another option to help decrease cough, but it does not include an antihistamine.
Over-the-counter alternatives include combinations of dextromethorphan with the antihistamines chlorpheniramine, doxylamine, brompheniramine, or diphenhydramine. Many of these antihistamine-antitussive combinations also include other drugs, for example, decongestants such as phenylephrine, expectorants such as guaifenesin, or pain relievers such as acetaminophen.
Is promethazine DM covered by insurance?
Insurance may cover promethazine DM, but Medicare Part D generally does not cover it when it’s prescribed to relieve cough or cold symptoms. Medicaid coverage varies by state.
How to get promethazine DM without insurance
If your insurance doesn’t cover promethazine DM, there are ways to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
1. Use a SingleCare prescription discount
The average retail price for 120 mL of promethazine DM syrup is about $38. A free coupon from SingleCare lowers that price to as low as $5, depending on your choice of pharmacy. SingleCare is free to use and available to everyone. Registered members can save even more, and it’s fast and free to sign up.
2. Compare pharmacy prices
One pharmacy may charge more for promethazine DM than another, so it can pay to compare prices before sending your prescription over. SingleCare makes it easy to compare prices online or on the go with the SingleCare app.
3. Ask your healthcare provider about similar generic drugs
Promethazine DM combines an antihistamine with a cough suppressant. Other prescription antihistamine-antitussive cough syrups FDA approved to treat cold and allergic rhinitis symptoms may cost less. However, codeine, which has different side effects and drug interactions than dextromethorphan, may be an active ingredient in these combination drugs.
4. Ask your healthcare provider about OTC treatment options
Store shelves contain a wealth of OTC allergy, cold, and flu combination drugs that contain both an antihistamine and a cough suppressant. For people without insurance, these OTC drugs may be a cheaper alternative than prescription drug combinations like promethazine DM. Check with a healthcare provider before using any OTC treatment option. Certain OTC medicines have drug interactions or may not be suitable for use depending on your medical conditions.
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The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Sep. 23, 2026. Prices vary by pharmacy. Visit our coupon page for updated drug prices at pharmacies near you.
- Promethazine DM promethazine hydrochloride and dextromethorphan hydrobromide solution prescribing information, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine) (2025)
- Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Manual Chapter 6 – Part D Drugs and Formulary Requirements, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Medically accurate: SingleCare’s Medical Review Board analyzes all of our content to confirm it’s in line with current medical advice.
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