Two medicines, side by side
Castor oil vs mineral oil
Castor oil and mineral oil are both labeled for constipation. Pharmacies paid $0.0193 per mL (Castor oil) and $0.0099 per mL (Mineral oil) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the castor oil FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 15, 2026); the mineral oil FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 2, 2026).
Highlights of the castor oil record
Castor oil · label of June 15, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsfor relief of occasional constipation (irregularity). Generally produces bowel movement in 6 to 12 hours.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0193 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the mineral oil record
Mineral oil · label of September 2, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsfor relief of occasional constipation (irregularity). Generally productes bowel movement in 6 to 8 hours.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0099 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Castor oil label of June 15, 2026, Mineral oil label of September 2, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do castor oil and mineral oil differ on the record?
| Castor oil | Mineral oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Constipation | Constipation |
| 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) | n/a | n/a |
| First generic approved | none | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0193 per mL (Castor oil) | $0.0099 per mL (Mineral oil) |
| 12-month price change | +0.3% | +25% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 189 | 1,463 |
| 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 castor oil
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions