If you’re wondering how much for a pint of lean, you’re likely seeing prices that seem totally detached from reality. It’s a cough syrup. It’s a mixture of promethazine and codeine. Yet, on the street and across encrypted messaging apps, a single pint can sell for the price of a used Honda Civic.
Prices are wild right now.
Usually, when people talk about "lean," "dirty sprite," or "sizzurp," they aren't talking about a generic bottle of CVS-brand medicine. They are talking about specific, branded pharmaceutical products—most notably Actavis, which became the "gold standard" before it was pulled from the market over a decade ago. Because the supply of legitimate, brand-name syrup is so restricted, the price has skyrocketed into the thousands.
In 2026, the market is a mess of counterfeit bottles, astronomical markups, and serious legal risks.
The High Cost of a Pint: Breaking Down the Numbers
Let's get straight to the point. On the black market, a pint of pharmaceutical-grade promethazine with codeine generally ranges from $2,500 to $8,000. Yes, you read that right. In certain circles or high-demand cities like Atlanta, Houston, or Los Angeles, "deadstock" bottles of discontinued brands can even fetch upwards of $10,000.
Why? Because it's rare.
Pharmacies have locked this stuff down. Most major chains like Walgreens or CVS have implemented strict protocols. They don't just hand out pints. Most legitimate prescriptions are for 4 or 8 ounces. Getting a full 16-ounce pint (a "seal") requires a specific type of prescription that doctors are increasingly terrified to write.
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The price varies based on a few factors:
- The Seal: A "sealed" bottle is worth significantly more because it implies the product hasn't been tampered with or diluted.
- The Brand: Hi-Tech (now Akorn), Wockhardt, and Tris are the names you hear in rap lyrics. These carry a "luxury" premium.
- Location: If you're in a city where the "culture" around lean is heavy, prices stay high.
Compare this to the legitimate cost. If you have insurance and a valid prescription, that same pint might cost you a $15 or $30 co-pay. Without insurance, the retail price at a pharmacy is usually between $250 and $400. The markup on the street is nearly 2,000%. It’s basically a Veblen good at this point—something people want specifically because it is expensive and hard to get.
Why "How Much For a Pint of Lean" is a Dangerous Question
If someone offers you a pint for $400 on the street, it’s fake. Period.
The biggest issue with the current market isn't just the price; it's the fact that the "lean" being sold is often just "homebrew." This is where things get genuinely scary. Since real promethazine-codeine is so hard to find, people are mixing Karo syrup, food coloring, and crushed-up pills.
Sometimes, those pills are just Benadryl. Other times, they are laced with fentanyl or nitazenes.
According to data from the DEA’s "One Pill Can Kill" initiative, a massive percentage of illicit prescription drugs seized in the last few years contain lethal doses of synthetic opioids. When you're buying a pint of purple liquid from an anonymous source, you have no idea what the chemical concentration is. You might think you're getting a mild sedative, but you could be ingesting a dose of fentanyl that shuts down your respiratory system in minutes.
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Honestly, the "clout" of owning a bottle has created a market where people prioritize the look of the label over the safety of the liquid inside. Counterfeit "Wockhardt" booklets and labels are sold in bulk on sites like Alibaba. Anyone with a printer and some corn syrup can make a bottle look authentic.
The Pharmaceutical Reality vs. The Street Hype
Promethazine with codeine is a Schedule V controlled substance. Codeine is an opiate. Promethazine is an antihistamine that potentiates the opiate, making the "high" feel heavier.
Medically, it's used to treat severe coughs and upper respiratory symptoms. It was never intended to be consumed in "pints." A standard medical dose is usually 5ml to 10ml. A pint contains 473ml. When people drink "four-oz" or "eight-oz" at a time, they are consuming massive amounts of sugar and medication that the liver struggled to process.
The Rise of Akorn and the Fall of Actavis
Back in 2014, Actavis famously stopped producing its promethazine-codeine syrup because of its association with glamorized drug use. This created a vacuum.
Akorn (formerly Hi-Tech) became the new leader, but then Akorn filed for bankruptcy and shut down all operations in early 2023. This sent the "how much for a pint of lean" search queries into a tailspin. With one of the largest manufacturers gone, the remaining brands like Tris, Quagen, and Morton Grove couldn't keep up with the demand—both legitimate and illicit.
This scarcity is what drives the $5,000 price tag. It's basic supply and demand, but with a side of felony charges.
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Legal and Health Risks: It's Not Just Money
If the price tag doesn't scare you, the legal system should.
Possession of a controlled substance without a prescription is a crime. Distribution—which selling a pint definitely qualifies as—is a serious felony. Law enforcement agencies are highly aware of the "lean" trade. They track the shipping of these bottles across state lines.
And then there's the health side.
- Kidney Issues: The high sugar content combined with the chemicals can lead to kidney stones and failure over long-term use.
- Seizures: Promethazine lowers the seizure threshold.
- Fatal Overdose: Mixing lean with alcohol or other benzos (like Xanax) is the most common way people die from this stuff. It stops your breathing.
Moving Toward Better Choices
Understanding the market for lean helps reveal why it has become such a focal point in pop culture, but the reality is far grimmer than the music videos suggest. The astronomical costs are a direct reflection of how difficult and dangerous it is to obtain.
If you or someone you know is struggling with the use of codeine or other opioids, the cost isn't just measured in dollars. It's measured in health, freedom, and time.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Verify Authenticity: If you are using this medication for a legitimate medical reason, only fill your prescription at a reputable, licensed pharmacy. Never buy "sealed" bottles from third-party vendors or social media.
- Test Your Substances: If you have already acquired a substance from an unofficial source, use fentanyl testing strips. While they don't catch everything (like new nitazenes), they are a vital harm-reduction tool.
- Seek Support: If the cost of your habit is draining your bank account or affecting your life, reach out to the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It’s a free, confidential, 24/7 service for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
- Dispose of Old Meds: If you have unused syrup from an old prescription, don't sell it or give it away. Find a local "Drug Take Back" location to dispose of it safely so it doesn't end up in the wrong hands.
The "pint" culture is built on a foundation of scarcity and high-risk behavior. No amount of social media status is worth a $5,000 counterfeit bottle that could be your last.