Two medicines, side by side
Allopurinol vs aspirin
Allopurinol is labeled for gout; aspirin for pain, cough and cold and fever. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of allopurinol since 1966 and of aspirin since 1965. Pharmacies paid $0.0315 per allopurinol 100 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.
Check it at the source: the allopurinol FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 21, 2026); the aspirin FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 9, 2025).
Highlights of the allopurinol record
Allopurinol (Zyloprim) · label of May 21, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsAllopurinol tablet is indicated for: The management of adults with signs and symptoms of primary or secondary gout (acute attacks, tophi, joint destruction, uric acid lithiasis, and/or nephropathy) The management of adult and pediatric patients with leukemia, lymphoma and solid tumor malignancies who are receiving cancer therapy which causes elevations of serum and urinary uric acid levels The management of adult […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 19, 1966
- Generic labelers
- 44 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0315 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 6
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 (Allopurinol label of May 21, 2026, Aspirin label of September 9, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do allopurinol and aspirin differ on the record?
Generics: allopurinol since 1985; aspirin none approved (Drugs@FDA).
| Allopurinol | Aspirin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Gout | Pain, Cough and cold, Fever |
| Pharmacologic class | Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor | n/a |
| How it works (label) | Allopurinol is a structural analogue of the natural purine base, hypoxanthine. Allopurinol acts on purine catabolism, without disrupting the biosynthesis of purines. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Elimination The half-life of allopurinol and oxipurinol are approximately 1 hour to 2 hours and 15 hours following oral dose of allopurinol, respectively. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 19, 1966 | June 25, 1965 |
| First generic approved | December 10, 1985 | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 44 labelers | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0315 per tablet (Allopurinol 100 mg tablet) | $0.0142 per tablet (Aspirin ec 81 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -20% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 6 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 155,998 | 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 allopurinol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions