Two medicines, side by side
Ketorolac vs aspirin
Ketorolac and aspirin are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of ketorolac since 1989 and of aspirin since 1965. Pharmacies paid $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) and $0.0142 per aspirin ec 81 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Only the ketorolac label carries a boxed warning.
Check it at the source: the ketorolac FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 31, 2023); the aspirin FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 9, 2025).
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 aspirin record
Aspirin (Measurin) · label of September 9, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTemporarily relieves headache toothache pain and fever of colds muscle pain menstrual pain minor pain of arthritis
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 25, 1965
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0142 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Ketorolac label of August 31, 2023, Aspirin label of September 9, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ketorolac and aspirin differ on the record?
Only the ketorolac label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: ketorolac since 1997; aspirin none approved (Drugs@FDA).
| Ketorolac | Aspirin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Pain, Cough and cold, Fever |
| 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 | June 25, 1965 |
| First generic approved | May 16, 1997 | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 60 labelers | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) | $0.0142 per tablet (Aspirin ec 81 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | In shortage | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 24 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 5,597 | 534,208 |
| 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Ketorolac label, boxed warningKetorolac tromethamine is CONTRAINDICATED in patients with previously demonstrated hypersensitivity to ketorolac tromethamine or allergic manifestations to aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Ketorolac label, contraindicationsKetorolac tromethamine should not be given to patients who have experienced asthma, urticaria, or allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to ketorolac
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions