Two medicines, side by side
Aspirin vs morphine
Aspirin and morphine are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of aspirin since 1965 and of morphine since 1984. Pharmacies paid $0.0142 per aspirin ec 81 mg tablet and $0.226 per morphine sulfate ir 15 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Only the morphine label carries a boxed warning.
Check it at the source: the aspirin FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 9, 2025); the morphine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 13, 2026).
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
Highlights of the morphine record
Morphine (Duramorph) · label of July 13, 2026
ADDICTION, ABUSE, AND MISUSE; RISK EVALUATION AND MITIGATION STRATEGY (REMS); LIFE-THREATENING RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION; ACCIDENTAL INGESTION; NEONATAL OPIOID WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME; and RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH BENZODIAZEPINES OR OTHER CNS DEPRESSANTS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Morphine sulfate exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death.
Used for
From the label: indicationsMorphine sulfate extended-release tablets are indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 18, 1984
- Generic labelers
- 22 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.226 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 66
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Aspirin label of September 9, 2025, Morphine label of July 13, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do aspirin and morphine differ on the record?
Only the morphine label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: aspirin none approved; morphine since 1986 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: aspirin none; morphine CII.
| Aspirin | Morphine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain, Cough and cold, Fever | Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Opioid Agonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Morphine is a full opioid agonist is relatively selective for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can bind to other opioid receptors at higher doses. The principal therapeutic action of morphine is analgesia. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Excretion The elimination of morphine occurs primarily as renal excretion of M3G and its effective half-life after intravenous administration is normally 2 to 4 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 25, 1965 | September 18, 1984 |
| First generic approved | none | October 7, 1986 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | 22 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0142 per tablet (Aspirin ec 81 mg tablet) | $0.226 per tablet (Morphine sulfate ir 15 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | -12% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 66 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 534,208 | 120,591 |
| DEA schedule | none | CII |
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 aspirin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions