Two medicines, side by side
Acetaminophen/hydrocodone vs bisoprolol
Acetaminophen/hydrocodone is labeled for pain; bisoprolol for high blood pressure. 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 $0.114 per bisoprolol fumarate 5 mg tablet (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 bisoprolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the acetaminophen/hydrocodone FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 23, 2025); the bisoprolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 11, 2026).
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 bisoprolol record
Bisoprolol (Zebeta) · label of March 11, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsBisoprolol fumarate tablets are indicated in the management of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 31, 1992
- Generic labelers
- 24 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.114 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Acetaminophen/hydrocodone label of October 23, 2025, Bisoprolol label of March 11, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do acetaminophen/hydrocodone and bisoprolol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, acetaminophen/hydrocodone is an opioid agonist and bisoprolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
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.”; Bisoprolol, “The plasma elimination half-life is 9 to 12 hours and is slightly longer in elderly patients, in part because of …”
Only the acetaminophen/hydrocodone label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: acetaminophen/hydrocodone since 1982; bisoprolol since 2000 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: acetaminophen/hydrocodone CII; bisoprolol none.
| Acetaminophen/hydrocodone | Bisoprolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | Opioid Agonist | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| 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. | The plasma elimination half-life is 9 to 12 hours and is slightly longer in elderly patients, in part because of decreased renal function in that population. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | n/a | July 31, 1992 |
| First generic approved | May 3, 1982 | November 16, 2000 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 36 labelers | 24 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.152 per tablet (Hydrocodone-acetaminophen 10-325 mg tablet) | $0.114 per tablet (Bisoprolol fumarate 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | -39% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 14 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 56,022 | 135,060 |
| 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