Two medicines, side by side
Acetaminophen vs ascorbic acid
Acetaminophen is labeled for fever, cough and cold and pain; ascorbic acid has no indication this site maps. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of acetaminophen since 1968 and of ascorbic acid since 2017. Only the acetaminophen label carries a boxed warning.
Check it at the source: the acetaminophen FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 13, 2024); the ascorbic acid FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 29, 2026).
Highlights of the acetaminophen record
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) · label of November 13, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationstemporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to: minor pain of arthritis muscular aches backache premenstrual and menstrual cramps the common cold headache toothache temporarily reduces fever
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 7, 1968
- Generic labelers
- 89 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0339 per unit
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 19
Highlights of the ascorbic acid record
Ascorbic acid (Ascor) · label of May 29, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsINDICATIONS AND USAGE ASCOR is vitamin C indicated for the short term (up to 1 week) treatment of scurvy in adult and pediatric patients age 5 months and older for whom oral administration is not possible, insufficient or contraindicated. Limitations of Use ASCOR is not indicated for treatment of vitamin C deficiency that is not associated with signs and symptoms of scurvy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 2, 2017
- Generic labelers
- 4 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Acetaminophen label of November 13, 2024, Ascorbic acid label of May 29, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do acetaminophen and ascorbic acid differ on the record?
Only the acetaminophen label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: acetaminophen since 1986; ascorbic acid since 2025 (Drugs@FDA).
| Acetaminophen | Ascorbic acid | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fever, Cough and cold, Pain | n/a |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Vitamin C |
| How it works (label) | n/a | The exact mechanism of action of ascorbic acid for the treatment of symptoms and signs of scurvy (a disorder caused by severe deficiency in vitamin C) is unknown; … |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 7, 1968 | October 2, 2017 |
| First generic approved | December 1, 1986 | August 7, 2025 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 89 labelers | 4 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0339 per unit (Acetaminophen 500 mg caplet) | n/a |
| 12-month price change | +5% | n/a |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 19 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 445,075 | 23,122 |
| DEA schedule | none | 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 next?
- Alternatives to acetaminophen
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions