Two medicines, side by side
Acetaminophen vs brimonidine/timolol
Acetaminophen is labeled for fever, cough and cold and pain; brimonidine/timolol for glaucoma. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of acetaminophen since 1968 and of brimonidine/timolol since 2007. Pharmacies paid $0.0339 per unit (Acetaminophen 500 mg caplet) and $2.15 per mL (Brimonidine-timolol 0.2%-0.5%) (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 brimonidine/timolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 17, 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 brimonidine and timolol record
Brimonidine and timolol (Combigan) · label of March 17, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsCOMBIGAN ® is indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension who require adjunctive or replacement therapy due to inadequately controlled IOP. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 30, 2007
- Generic labelers
- 14 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $2.15 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Acetaminophen label of November 13, 2024, Brimonidine/timolol label of March 17, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do acetaminophen and brimonidine/timolol differ on the record?
Only the acetaminophen label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: acetaminophen since 1986; brimonidine/timolol since 2022 (Drugs@FDA).
| Acetaminophen | Brimonidine/timolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fever, Cough and cold, Pain | Glaucoma |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | alpha-Adrenergic Agonist, beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | COMBIGAN is comprised of two components: brimonidine tartrate and timolol. Each of these two components decreases elevated intraocular pressure, whether or not associated with glaucoma. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Excretion In the crossover study in healthy volunteers, the plasma concentration of brimonidine declined with a systemic half-life of approximately 3 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 7, 1968 | October 30, 2007 |
| First generic approved | December 1, 1986 | April 4, 2022 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 89 labelers | 14 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0339 per unit (Acetaminophen 500 mg caplet) | $2.15 per mL (Brimonidine-timolol 0.2%-0.5%) |
| 12-month price change | +5% | -52% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 19 | 5 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 445,075 | 6,959 |
| 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