Two medicines, side by side
Acetaminophen/hydrocodone vs aspirin
Acetaminophen/hydrocodone and aspirin are both labeled for pain. Pharmacies paid $0.152 per hydrocodone-acetaminophen 10-325 mg tablet and $0.0142 per aspirin ec 81 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Only the acetaminophen/hydrocodone label carries a boxed warning.
Check it at the source: the acetaminophen/hydrocodone FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 23, 2025); the aspirin FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 9, 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 aspirin record
Aspirin (Measurin) · label of September 9, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTemporarily relieves headache toothache pain and fever of colds muscle pain menstrual pain minor pain of arthritis
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 25, 1965
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0142 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Acetaminophen/hydrocodone label of October 23, 2025, Aspirin label of September 9, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do acetaminophen/hydrocodone and aspirin differ on the record?
Only the acetaminophen/hydrocodone label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: acetaminophen/hydrocodone since 1982; aspirin none approved (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: acetaminophen/hydrocodone CII; aspirin none.
| Acetaminophen/hydrocodone | Aspirin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Pain, Cough and cold, Fever |
| Pharmacologic class | Opioid Agonist | n/a |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| 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. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | n/a | June 25, 1965 |
| First generic approved | May 3, 1982 | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 36 labelers | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.152 per tablet (Hydrocodone-acetaminophen 10-325 mg tablet) | $0.0142 per tablet (Aspirin ec 81 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 14 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 56,022 | 534,208 |
| 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