Two medicines, side by side
Dexamethasone vs ibuprofen
Dexamethasone and ibuprofen are both labeled for pain, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs@FDA records approvals of dexamethasone since 1958 and of ibuprofen since 1974. Pharmacies paid $0.193 per dexamethasone 4 mg tablet and $0.0573 per ibuprofen 800 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, dexamethasone is a corticosteroid and ibuprofen a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
Check it at the source: the dexamethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 6, 2025); the ibuprofen FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 1, 2026).
Highlights of the dexamethasone record
Dexamethasone (Decadron) · label of June 6, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAllergic States Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis, and serum sickness. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 30, 1958
- Generic labelers
- 60 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.193 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 8
Highlights of the ibuprofen record
Ibuprofen (Advil) · label of January 1, 2026
Used for
From the label: indications■ temporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to: ■ headache ■ muscular aches ■ minor pain of arthritis ■ toothache ■ backache ■ the common cold ■ menstrual cramps ■ temporarily reduces fever
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 19, 1974
- Generic labelers
- 245 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0573 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 40
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Dexamethasone label of June 6, 2025, Ibuprofen label of January 1, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do dexamethasone and ibuprofen differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, dexamethasone is a corticosteroid and ibuprofen a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
Only the ibuprofen label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: dexamethasone since 1971; ibuprofen since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Dexamethasone | Ibuprofen | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Herpes and shingles, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Allergies, Anemia, Pain | Fever, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain, Cough and cold |
| Pharmacologic class | Corticosteroid | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 30, 1958 | September 19, 1974 |
| First generic approved | October 20, 1971 | February 8, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 60 labelers | 245 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.193 per tablet (Dexamethasone 4 mg tablet) | $0.0573 per tablet (Ibuprofen 800 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -26% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | In shortage | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 8 | 40 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 304,163 | 270,516 |
| 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?
Ibuprofen label, drug interactions (prescription label)The clinical significance of this interaction is not known; however, as with other NSAIDs, concomitant administration of ibuprofen and aspirin is not generally recommended because of the potential for increased adverse effects.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to dexamethasone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions