Humatin — Compare Prices at US & Canada Pharmacies
Compare real Humatin prices at US and Canadian pharmacies, see official FDA uses and warnings, and find generic alternatives. Save up to 97% by comparing Canada pharmacy prices.
What is the out-of-pocket cost for Humatin without insurance coverage?
Without insurance, the standard retail price for Humatin is approximately $3,268.23 per 21 250mg capsules. The generic alternative, paromomycin sulfate, typically costs considerably less while providing the same therapeutic benefit. Discount prescription programs and pharmacy price-comparison tools can help you locate lower rates at different pharmacy chains in your area.
What out-of-pocket expenses apply if I have insurance?
Insurance coverage and copay amounts for Humatin vary significantly based on your specific plan type and formulary. Contact your insurance provider or review your plan documents to confirm whether Humatin is covered and what your copayment will be. If your insurance plan does not cover this medication or charges a high copay, you may find better pricing through discount prescription programs or by requesting the generic paromomycin sulfate from your pharmacist. Comparing prices across multiple pharmacies is often helpful, as rates can differ substantially between locations.
What generic option exists for Humatin?
Paromomycin sulfate is the generic equivalent of Humatin. Both formulations contain the same active ingredient and provide identical therapeutic effects. Generic paromomycin sulfate typically costs significantly less than the brand name, which carries a retail price of $3,268.23 per 21 250mg capsules. Your physician can prescribe the generic form, and you can request it when filling your prescription at the pharmacy.
"As low as" figures compare the single lowest oral tablet/capsule price found on each side — not necessarily the same strength or pack size. Always check the full tables below for your exact dose. Prices updated 2026-08-21.
Humatin prices at US pharmacies
Humatin — capsule, 250mg, qty 21
| Pharmacy | Retail price | With discount card |
|---|---|---|
| Kroger Pharmacy Lowest | $2704.96 | $2701.96 |
| Harris Teeter Pharmacy | $2704.96 | $2701.96 |
| CVS Pharmacy | $2728.02 | $2725.02 |
| Food Lion | $2823.91 | — |
| Walgreens | $2839.22 | $2836.22 |
| Publix | $2857.03 | $2854.03 |
| Walmart Neighborhood Market | $2904.24 | $2901.24 |
| Walmart Pharmacy | $2904.24 | $2901.24 |
Humatin prices at Canadian pharmacies
| Strength | Pharmacy | Per pill (USD) | Pack total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Default | CanadianPharmacyAdvantage.com | $3.47 | $346.83 |
| Default | CanadaPharmacies.com | $3.58 | $357.99 |
| Default | CanadianPrescriptionDrugstore.com | $3.90 | $780.00 |
| Default | InhalersOnline.com | $4.01 | $401.16 |
| Default | SPFPharmacy.com | $4.32 | $432.08 |
| Default | CanadianPrescriptionDrugstore.com | $4.50 | $450.00 |
Canada prices are converted to USD at time of collection and shown per tablet where available. Ordering from Canadian pharmacies is legal for personal use in most cases but subject to FDA/CBSA rules — see US vs Canada, explained.
What is Humatin used for?
Humatin (paromomycin) is an unusual member of the aminoglycoside family: unlike injectable aminoglycosides such as gentamicin or amikacin, it's taken orally and barely absorbed from an intact gut, so it acts almost entirely within the intestinal lumen rather than circulating through the bloodstream. That's exactly what makes it useful for its FDA-approved indications — intestinal amebiasis (infection with Entamoeba histolytica confined to the gut) and as adjunctive therapy for hepatic coma, where it reduces ammonia-producing bacteria in the colon to help lower blood ammonia levels in patients with severe liver disease. The label is explicit that it does not work for amebiasis that has spread beyond the intestine, since the drug never reaches those tissues in meaningful concentrations.
Because so little is absorbed, paromomycin largely avoids the nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity that define the boxed warnings on injectable aminoglycosides — but that protection isn't absolute. If the intestinal lining is inflamed or ulcerated (as it can be with severe amebiasis or inflammatory bowel disease) or if kidney function is impaired, more of the drug can enter the bloodstream than expected, and the same aminoglycoside toxicity risks apply. It's also used off-label by infectious disease specialists for other parasitic infections, including cryptosporidiosis in immunocompromised patients and as a component of combination therapy for some forms of leishmaniasis, though these uses fall outside the original FDA-approved labeling.
Paromomycin is contraindicated in intestinal obstruction, since a non-functioning gut changes how the drug is retained and absorbed. As with any antibiotic, gastrointestinal side effects like cramping, nausea, and diarrhea are the most commonly reported issues.
How Humatin works
Stays mostly in the gut
Taken orally, paromomycin is poorly absorbed across an intact intestinal wall, so it acts locally in the intestine rather than circulating through the bloodstream.
Disrupts parasite and bacterial protein synthesis
Like other aminoglycosides, it binds the ribosome and interferes with protein production, killing intestinal amebae and reducing ammonia-producing gut bacteria.
Clears the infection or lowers ammonia
For amebiasis, this clears the intestinal infection; for hepatic coma, reducing gut bacteria lowers the ammonia load that worsens confusion in severe liver disease.
Available forms
capsule
Related & alternative drugs
Warnings & interactions
This is a summary of the official FDA label text, not personalized medical advice. It does not list every possible interaction or side effect. Always tell your prescriber and pharmacist about every medicine and supplement you take.
Common, usually mild
- Abdominal cramping
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Heartburn
Serious — seek care promptly
- Signs of kidney injury (if the drug is absorbed more than expected)
- Hearing changes or ringing in the ears (if the drug is absorbed more than expected)
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction
Contraindications
CONTRAINDICATIONS Paromomycin sulfate is contraindicated in individuals with a history of previous hypersensitivity reactions to it. It is also contraindicated in intestinal obstruction.
Humatin, by the numbers
Additional public data points beyond retail pricing — useful context, not a price quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Humatin cost without insurance?
Is Humatin cheaper in Canada or the US?
Is there a generic version of Humatin?
What drug class is Humatin in?
Page info
Prices last checked 2026-08-21. Reviewed against FDA and DailyMed official sources — see our review process. Not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Aldon Li, M.D., FIDSA, Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine