Two medicines, side by side
Camphor vs lidocaine
Camphor and lidocaine are both labeled for pain. Pharmacies paid $0.0188 per mL (Vapor steam liquid) and $0.154 per gram (Lidocaine 5% ointment) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Lidocaine's other strengths are brand-only: $12.31 per unit (Ztlido 1.8% topical system).
Check it at the source: the camphor FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 12, 2026); the lidocaine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 13, 2024).
Highlights of the camphor record
Camphor · label of February 12, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsDirections Clean and dry affected area. Tear off the back paper. Stick to the affected area.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0188 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the lidocaine record
Lidocaine (Xylocaine) · label of May 13, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsXylocaine (lidocaine HCl) Injections are indicated for production of local or regional anesthesia by infiltration techniques such as percutaneous injection and intravenous regional anesthesia by peripheral nerve block techniques such as brachial plexus and intercostal and by central neural techniques such as lumbar and caudal epidural blocks, when the accepted procedures for these techniques as described in standard textbooks are observed. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 19, 1948
- Generic labelers
- 81 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.154 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 39
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Camphor label of February 12, 2026, Lidocaine label of May 13, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do camphor and lidocaine differ on the record?
Generics: camphor none approved; lidocaine since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Camphor | Lidocaine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain, Cough and cold, Herpes and shingles | Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Amide Local Anesthetic, Antiarrhythmic |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Mechanism of Action Lidocaine HCl stabilizes the neuronal membrane by inhibiting the ionic fluxes required for the initiation and conduction of impulses thereby effecting local anesthetic action. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The elimination half-life of lidocaine HCl following an intravenous bolus injection is typically 1.5 to 2 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | n/a | November 19, 1948 |
| First generic approved | none | June 30, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | 81 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0188 per mL (Vapor steam liquid) | $0.154 per gram (Lidocaine 5% ointment) |
| 12-month price change | +4% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 39 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 208 | 71,853 |
| 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 camphor
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions