Two medicines, side by side
Ibuprofen vs ketorolac
Ibuprofen and ketorolac are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of ibuprofen since 1974 and of ketorolac since 1989. Pharmacies paid $0.0573 per ibuprofen 800 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, ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and ketorolac a cyclooxygenase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the ibuprofen FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 1, 2026); the ketorolac FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 31, 2023).
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
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 (Ibuprofen label of January 1, 2026, Ketorolac label of August 31, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ibuprofen and ketorolac differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and ketorolac a cyclooxygenase inhibitor.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: ibuprofen since 1985; ketorolac since 1997 (Drugs@FDA).
| Ibuprofen | Ketorolac | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fever, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain, Cough and cold | Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug | Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug |
| How it works (label) | n/a | 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) | n/a | 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) | September 19, 1974 | November 30, 1989 |
| First generic approved | February 8, 1985 | May 16, 1997 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 245 labelers | 60 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0573 per tablet (Ibuprofen 800 mg tablet) | $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 40 | 24 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 270,516 | 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?
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 ibuprofen
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions