Two medicines, side by side
Etodolac vs ketorolac
Etodolac and ketorolac are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of etodolac since 1991 and of ketorolac since 1989. Pharmacies paid $0.262 per etodolac 400 mg tablet 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, etodolac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and ketorolac a cyclooxygenase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the etodolac FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 16, 2026); the ketorolac FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 31, 2023).
Highlights of the etodolac record
Etodolac (Lodine) · label of July 16, 2026
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 treatment and may increase with duration of use [see Warnings and Precautions ]. Etodolac tablets, 400 mg and 500 mg are contraindicated in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery [see Contraindications and Warnings ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsCarefully consider the potential benefits and risks of etodolac tablets and other treatment options before deciding to use etodolac tablets. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals (see WARNINGS ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 31, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 30 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.262 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
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 (Etodolac label of July 16, 2026, Ketorolac label of August 31, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do etodolac and ketorolac differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, etodolac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and ketorolac a cyclooxygenase inhibitor.
How each works, in its label's words: Etodolac, “of etodolac, like that of other NSAIDs, is not completely understood, but may be related to prostaglandin synthetase inhibition.”; 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: Etodolac, “The terminal half-life (t 1/2 ) of etodolac is 6.4 hours (22% CV).”; 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: etodolac since 1997; ketorolac since 1997 (Drugs@FDA).
| Etodolac | Ketorolac | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis | Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug | Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug |
| How it works (label) | of etodolac, like that of other NSAIDs, is not completely understood, but may be related to prostaglandin synthetase inhibition. Etodolac is a racemic mixture of [-]R- and [+]S-etodolac. | 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) | The terminal half-life (t 1/2 ) of etodolac is 6.4 hours (22% CV). | 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) | January 31, 1991 | November 30, 1989 |
| First generic approved | February 28, 1997 | May 16, 1997 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 30 labelers | 60 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.262 per tablet (Etodolac 400 mg tablet) | $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) |
| 12-month price change | +0.9% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 24 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 5,958 | 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?
Etodolac label, drug interactionsThe clinical significance of this interaction is not known; however, as with other NSAIDs, concomitant administration of etodolac and aspirin is not generally recommended because of the potential of increased adverse effects.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to etodolac
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions