Two medicines, side by side
Ketorolac vs acetaminophen
Ketorolac and acetaminophen are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of ketorolac since 1989 and of acetaminophen since 1968. Pharmacies paid $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) and $0.0339 per unit (Acetaminophen 500 mg caplet) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the ketorolac FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 31, 2023); the acetaminophen FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 13, 2024).
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
Highlights of the acetaminophen record
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) · label of November 13, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationstemporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to: minor pain of arthritis muscular aches backache premenstrual and menstrual cramps the common cold headache toothache temporarily reduces fever
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 7, 1968
- Generic labelers
- 89 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0339 per unit
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 19
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Ketorolac label of August 31, 2023, Acetaminophen label of November 13, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ketorolac and acetaminophen differ on the record?
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: ketorolac since 1997; acetaminophen since 1986 (Drugs@FDA).
| Ketorolac | Acetaminophen | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Fever, Cough and cold, Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug | n/a |
| How it works (label) | 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. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | 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. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 30, 1989 | November 7, 1968 |
| First generic approved | May 16, 1997 | December 1, 1986 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 60 labelers | 89 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) | $0.0339 per unit (Acetaminophen 500 mg caplet) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | +5% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | In shortage | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 24 | 19 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 5,597 | 445,075 |
| 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 next?
- Alternatives to ketorolac
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions