Two medicines, side by side
Acetaminophen/hydrocodone vs amoxicillin/clavulanate
Acetaminophen/hydrocodone is labeled for pain; amoxicillin/clavulanate for urinary tract infections and bacterial infections. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Pharmacies paid $0.152 per hydrocodone-acetaminophen 10-325 mg tablet and $0.0693 per mL (Amox-clav 600-42.9 mg/5 mL sus) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, acetaminophen/hydrocodone is an opioid agonist and amoxicillin/clavulanate a beta lactamase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the acetaminophen/hydrocodone FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 23, 2025); the amoxicillin/clavulanate FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 1, 2025).
Highlights of the acetaminophen and hydrocodone record
Acetaminophen and hydrocodone (Norco) · label of October 23, 2025
SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF HYDROCODONE BITARTRATE AND ACETAMINOPHEN TABLETS. Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death, assess each patient’s risk prior to prescribing and reassess all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions [see WARNINGS ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsHydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets are indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- 36 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.152 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 14
Highlights of the amoxicillin and clavulanate record
Amoxicillin and clavulanate (Augmentin) · label of May 1, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAmoxicillin and clavulanate potassium is indicated for the treatment of infections in adults and pediatric patients, due to susceptible isolates of the designated bacteria in the conditions listed below: • Lower Respiratory Tract Infections - caused by beta‑lactamase‑producing isolates of Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 6, 1984
- Generic labelers
- 31 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0693 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Acetaminophen/hydrocodone label of October 23, 2025, Amoxicillin/clavulanate label of May 1, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do acetaminophen/hydrocodone and amoxicillin/clavulanate differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, acetaminophen/hydrocodone is an opioid agonist and amoxicillin/clavulanate a beta lactamase inhibitor.
Half-life, in each label's words: Acetaminophen/hydrocodone, “Maximum serum levels were achieved at 1.3 ± 0.3 hours and the half-life was determined to be 3.8 ± 0.3 hours.”; Amoxicillin/clavulanate, “Metabolism and Excretion The half-life of amoxicillin after the oral administration of amoxicillin and clavulanate …”
Only the acetaminophen/hydrocodone label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: acetaminophen/hydrocodone since 1982; amoxicillin/clavulanate since 2002 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: acetaminophen/hydrocodone CII; amoxicillin/clavulanate none.
| Acetaminophen/hydrocodone | Amoxicillin/clavulanate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Opioid Agonist | Penicillin-class Antibacterial, beta Lactamase Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium is an antibacterial drug [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]. |
| Half-life (label) | Maximum serum levels were achieved at 1.3 ± 0.3 hours and the half-life was determined to be 3.8 ± 0.3 hours. | Metabolism and Excretion The half-life of amoxicillin after the oral administration of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium is 1.3 hours and that of clavulanic acid is 1 hour. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | n/a | August 6, 1984 |
| First generic approved | May 3, 1982 | March 14, 2002 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 36 labelers | 31 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.152 per tablet (Hydrocodone-acetaminophen 10-325 mg tablet) | $0.0693 per mL (Amox-clav 600-42.9 mg/5 mL sus) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | +2% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 14 | 5 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 56,022 | 27,019 |
| DEA schedule | CII | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Acetaminophen/hydrocodone label, drug interactionsBenzodiazepines and Other Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants Due to additive pharmacologic effect, the concomitant use of benzodiazepines and other CNS depressants, such as benzodiazepines and other sedative/hypnotics, anxiolytics, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin), and other opioids, including alcohol, can increase the risk of …
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to acetaminophen/hydrocodone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions