Two medicines, side by side
Ibuprofen vs prednisolone
Ibuprofen and prednisolone are both labeled for osteoarthritis. Drugs@FDA records approvals of ibuprofen since 1974 and of prednisolone since 1955. Pharmacies paid $0.0573 per ibuprofen 800 mg tablet and $4.72 per mL (Prednisolone ac 1% eye drop) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Prednisolone's other strengths are brand-only: $30.66 per mL (Pred mild 0.12% eye drops). In FDA's classes, ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and prednisolone a corticosteroid.
Check it at the source: the ibuprofen FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 1, 2026); the prednisolone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 25, 2026).
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 prednisolone record
Prednisolone (Pred) · label of June 25, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsPrednisolone Sodium Phosphate Oral Solution is indicated in the following conditions: 1. Allergic States Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in adult and pediatric populations with: seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis; asthma; contact dermatitis; atopic dermatitis; serum sickness; drug hypersensitivity reactions. 2. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 22, 1955
- Generic labelers
- 25 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $4.72 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 9
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Ibuprofen label of January 1, 2026, Prednisolone label of June 25, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ibuprofen and prednisolone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and prednisolone a corticosteroid.
Only the ibuprofen label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: ibuprofen since 1985; prednisolone since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Ibuprofen | Prednisolone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fever, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain, Cough and cold | Anemia, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Organ transplant rejection |
| Pharmacologic class | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug | Corticosteroid |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Prednisolone is 70-90% protein-bound in the plasma and it is eliminated from the plasma with a half-life of 2 to 4 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 19, 1974 | May 22, 1955 |
| First generic approved | February 8, 1985 | November 24, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 245 labelers | 25 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0573 per tablet (Ibuprofen 800 mg tablet) | $4.72 per mL (Prednisolone ac 1% eye drop) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | +4% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 40 | 9 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 270,516 | 191,407 |
| 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