Two medicines, side by side
Acetaminophen vs aspirin
Acetaminophen and aspirin are both labeled for pain, cough and cold and fever. Drugs@FDA records approvals of acetaminophen since 1968 and of aspirin since 1965. Pharmacies paid $0.0339 per unit (Acetaminophen 500 mg caplet) 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 label carries a boxed warning.
Check it at the source: the acetaminophen FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 13, 2024); the aspirin FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 9, 2025).
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 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 label of November 13, 2024, Aspirin label of September 9, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do acetaminophen and aspirin differ on the record?
Only the acetaminophen label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: acetaminophen since 1986; aspirin none approved (Drugs@FDA).
| Acetaminophen | Aspirin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fever, Cough and cold, Pain | Pain, Cough and cold, Fever |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | n/a |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 7, 1968 | June 25, 1965 |
| First generic approved | December 1, 1986 | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 89 labelers | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0339 per unit (Acetaminophen 500 mg caplet) | $0.0142 per tablet (Aspirin ec 81 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +5% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 19 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 445,075 | 534,208 |
| 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