Medicines labeled for the same conditions
Alternatives to ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine
14 other medicines are given the same way (oral) and in the same FDA class as ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine or labeled mainly for the same use (cough and cold); 2 are in its class, alpha-adrenergic agonists: naproxen and acetaminophen and aspirin and caffeine; the others include 3 histamine-1 receptor antagonists, 2 expectorants and 2 sigma-1 agonists (FDA labels read October 8, 2026). In the same class, the lowest pharmacy cost is $0.0565 per naproxen 500 mg tablet (what pharmacies paid in the NADAC survey; strengths differ).
Which medicines are labeled for the same conditions as ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine?
Cough and cold lists all 31 medicines labeled for it, by any route. Each row shows the conditions both labels name. They are listed as public records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another depends on the person and is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine and FDA class | Shared indication | Generic labelers (oral) | Pharmacy cost | Boxed warning | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ibuprofen and pseudoephedrinealpha-adrenergic agonist | this medicine | 9 labelers | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Naproxennonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug · same class | Cough and cold | 146 labelers | $0.0565 per tablet 500 mg tablet | Yes | No current entry |
| Acetaminophen and aspirin and caffeineplatelet aggregation inhibitor · same class | Cough and cold | 39 labelers | $0.0648 per unit 250-250-65 mg cplt | No | No current entry |
| Diphenhydraminehistamine-1 receptor antagonist | Cough and cold | 4 labelers | $0.0185 per mL 12.5 mg/5 mL | No | No current entry |
| Dextromethorphan and guaifenesinexpectorant | Cough and cold | 61 labelers | $0.0207 per mL 200-20 mg/20 mL | No | No current entry |
| Guaifenesinexpectorant | Cough and cold | 102 labelers | $0.284 per tablet 600 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Benzonatatenon-narcotic antitussive | Cough and cold | 45 labelers | $0.0656 per capsule 100 mg capsule | No | No current entry |
| Dextromethorphansigma-1 agonist | Cough and cold | 28 labelers | $0.122 per unit 15 mg softgel | No | No current entry |
| Phenylephrinealpha-1 adrenergic agonist | Cough and cold | none listed | $0.0496 per tablet 10 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Dextromethorphan and promethazinesigma-1 agonist | Cough and cold | 13 labelers | $0.039 per mL 6.25-15 mg/5 mL solution | Yes | No current entry |
| Homatropine methylbromide and hydrocodoneopioid agonist | Cough and cold | 3 labelers | $0.922 per tablet 5-1.5 mg tablet | Yes | No current entry |
| Codeine and promethazinephenothiazine | Cough and cold | 5 labelers | $0.0697 per mL Promethazine-codeine solution | Yes | No current entry |
| Chlorpheniramine and hydrocodonehistamine-1 receptor antagonist | Cough and cold | 2 labelers | $0.556 per mL Hydrocodone-chlorphen ER suspension | Yes | No current entry |
| Chlorpheniramine and codeinehistamine-1 receptor antagonist | Cough and cold | none listed | n/a | Yes | No current entry |
| Codeine and phenylephrine and promethazinealpha-1 adrenergic agonist | Cough and cold | 1 labeler | n/a | Yes | No current entry |
Source: FDA drug labels (indications) via openFDA; FDA NDC Directory; CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026; FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for each?
The headline NADAC price per unit of each medicine's most widely listed form; strengths differ, so compare like with like on each record.
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
What next?
- Ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine: the full record
- label, generics, price, shortages, recalls