Two medicines, side by side

Hydrocodone vs naproxen

Hydrocodone and naproxen are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of hydrocodone since 2013 and of naproxen since 1976. Pharmacies paid $7.95 per hydrocodone ER 15 mg capsule and $0.0565 per naproxen 500 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 naproxen a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Check it at the source: the hydrocodone FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 29, 2026); the naproxen FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 12, 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 naproxen record

Naproxen (Aleve) · label of March 12, 2026

Used for

From the label: indications
temporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to: minor pain of arthritis muscular aches backache menstrual cramps headache toothache the common cold temporarily reduces fever

On the market

Earliest approval on file: March 11, 1976
Generic labelers: 139 labelers
Pharmacy cost: $0.0565 per tablet

Supply and safety

Shortage: No current entry
Recalls: 8

Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Hydrocodone label of May 29, 2026, Naproxen label of March 12, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)

How do hydrocodone and naproxen differ on the record?

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

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

Generics: hydrocodone since 2020; naproxen since 1992 (Drugs@FDA).

DEA schedule: hydrocodone CII; naproxen none.

	Hydrocodone	Naproxen
Labeled for	Pain	Fever, Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Gout, 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	March 11, 1976
First generic approved	January 21, 2020	October 30, 1992
Generic labelers (NDC)	1 labeler	139 labelers
Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ)	$7.95 per capsule (Hydrocodone ER 15 mg capsule)	$0.0565 per tablet (Naproxen 500 mg tablet)
12-month price change	+34%	-9%
Boxed warning	Yes	Yes
Shortage now	No current entry	No current entry
Recalls recorded	0	8
FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used)	43,191	142,225
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 …

Naproxen label, drug interactions (prescription label)
Concomitant use of naproxen 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?

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