Two medicines, side by side
Celecoxib vs ketorolac
Celecoxib and ketorolac are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of celecoxib since 1998 and of ketorolac since 1989. Pharmacies paid $0.0762 per celecoxib 200 mg capsule and $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, celecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and ketorolac a cyclooxygenase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the celecoxib FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 22, 2024); the ketorolac FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 31, 2023).
Highlights of the celecoxib record
Celecoxib (Celebrex) · label of November 22, 2024
RISK OF SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR AND GASTROINTESTINAL EVENTS Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction, and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in the treatment and may increase with duration of use [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsCELEBREX is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug indicated for: • Osteoarthritis (OA) ( 1.1 ) • Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) ( 1.2 ) • Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) in patients 2 years and older ( 1.3 ) • Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) ( 1.4 ) • Acute Pain (AP) ( 1.5 ) • Primary Dysmenorrhea (PD) ( 1.6 ) 1.1 Osteoarthritis (OA) For the management of the signs and symptoms of OA [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]. 1.2 […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 31, 1998
- Generic labelers
- 63 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0762 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Highlights of the ketorolac record
Ketorolac (Toradol) · label of August 31, 2023
Ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is indicated for the short-term (up to 5 days in adults) management of moderately severe acute pain that requires analgesia at the opioid level. Oral ketorolac tromethamine is indicated only as continuation treatment following intravenous or intramuscular dosing of ketorolac tromethamine, if necessary.
Used for
From the label: indicationsCarefully consider the potential benefits and risks of ketorolac tromethamine and other treatment options before deciding to use ketorolac. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals (see WARNINGS ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 30, 1989
- Generic labelers
- 60 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.02 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 24
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Celecoxib label of November 22, 2024, Ketorolac label of August 31, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do celecoxib and ketorolac differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, celecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and ketorolac a cyclooxygenase inhibitor.
How each works, in its label's words: Celecoxib, “The mechanism of action of CELEBREX is believed to be due to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, primarily via inhibition of COX-2.”; Ketorolac, “of ketorolac, like that of other NSAIDs, is not completely understood but may be related to prostaglandin synthetase inhibition.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Celecoxib, “It is primarily metabolized by CYP2C9 with a half-life of approximately 11 hours.”; Ketorolac, “The half-life of the ketorolac tromethamine S-enantiomer was approximately 2.5 hours (SD ± 0.4) compared with 5 hours …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: celecoxib since 2014; ketorolac since 1997 (Drugs@FDA).
| Celecoxib | Ketorolac | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain, Migraine | Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug | Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug |
| How it works (label) | Celecoxib has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties. The mechanism of action of CELEBREX is believed to be due to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, primarily via inhibition of COX-2. | of ketorolac, like that of other NSAIDs, is not completely understood but may be related to prostaglandin synthetase inhibition. The biological activity of ketorolac tromethamine is associated with the S-form. |
| Half-life (label) | It is primarily metabolized by CYP2C9 with a half-life of approximately 11 hours. | The half-life of the ketorolac tromethamine S-enantiomer was approximately 2.5 hours (SD ± 0.4) compared with 5 hours (SD ± 1.7) for the R-enantiomer. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 31, 1998 | November 30, 1989 |
| First generic approved | May 30, 2014 | May 16, 1997 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 63 labelers | 60 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0762 per capsule (Celecoxib 200 mg capsule) | $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) |
| 12-month price change | -13% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 24 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 130,882 | 5,597 |
| 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 do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Celecoxib label, drug interactionsConcomitant use of Celecoxib with other NSAIDs or salicylates (e.g., diflunisal, salsalate) increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ].
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to celecoxib
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions