Two medicines, side by side

Hydrocodone vs ibuprofen

Hydrocodone and ibuprofen are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of hydrocodone since 2013 and of ibuprofen since 1974. Pharmacies paid $7.95 per hydrocodone ER 15 mg capsule and $0.0573 per ibuprofen 800 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Hydrocodone's other strengths are brand-only: $13.31 per Hysingla ER 20 mg tablet. In FDA's classes, hydrocodone is an opioid agonist and ibuprofen a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Check it at the source: the hydrocodone FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 29, 2026); the ibuprofen FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 1, 2026).

Highlights of the hydrocodone record

Hydrocodone (Hysingla) · label of May 29, 2026

Boxed warning

SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF HYSINGLA ER Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of HYSINGLA ER exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death, assess each patient's risk prior to prescribing and reassess all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].

Used for

From the label: indications
HYSINGLA ER is indicated for the management of severe and persistent pain that requires an opioid analgesic and that cannot be adequately treated with alternative options, including immediate-release opioids. […]

On the market

Earliest approval on file: October 25, 2013
Generic labelers: 1 labeler
Pharmacy cost: $7.95 per capsule

Supply and safety

Shortage: No current entry
Recalls: 0

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 (Hydrocodone label of May 29, 2026, Ibuprofen label of January 1, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)

How do hydrocodone and ibuprofen differ on the record?

In FDA's classes, hydrocodone is an opioid agonist and ibuprofen a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.

Generics: hydrocodone since 2020; ibuprofen since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).

DEA schedule: hydrocodone CII; ibuprofen none.

	Hydrocodone	Ibuprofen
Labeled for	Pain	Fever, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain, Cough and cold
Pharmacologic class	Opioid Agonist	Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug
How it works (label)	Hydrocodone is a full opioid agonist with relative selectivity for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can interact with other opioid receptors at higher doses. The principal therapeutic action of hydrocodone is analgesia.	n/a
Half-life (label)	The mean terminal half-life (t 1/2 ) was similar for all HYSINGLA ER dose strengths ranging from 7 to 9 hours.	n/a
Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA)	October 25, 2013	September 19, 1974
First generic approved	January 21, 2020	February 8, 1985
Generic labelers (NDC)	1 labeler	245 labelers
Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ)	$7.95 per capsule (Hydrocodone ER 15 mg capsule)	$0.0573 per tablet (Ibuprofen 800 mg tablet)
12-month price change	+34%	-2%
Boxed warning	Yes	Yes
Shortage now	No current entry	No current entry
Recalls recorded	0	40
FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used)	43,191	270,516
DEA schedule	CII	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?

Hydrocodone label, warnings and precautions
Use with Benzodiazepines or Other CNS Depressants Profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death may result from the concomitant use of HYSINGLA ER with benzodiazepines and/or other CNS depressants, including alcohol (e.g., non-benzodiazepine sedatives/hypnotics, anxiolytics, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, gabapentinoids [gabapentin or pregabalin], and other …

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?

Hydrocodone: the full record
Ibuprofen: the full record
Alternatives to hydrocodone: every medicine labeled for the same conditions