Two medicines, side by side
Ketorolac vs hydrocodone
Ketorolac and hydrocodone are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of ketorolac since 1989 and of hydrocodone since 2013. Pharmacies paid $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) and $7.95 per hydrocodone ER 15 mg capsule (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, ketorolac is a cyclooxygenase inhibitor and hydrocodone an opioid agonist.
Check it at the source: the ketorolac FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 31, 2023); the hydrocodone FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 29, 2026).
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 hydrocodone record
Hydrocodone (Hysingla) · label of May 29, 2026
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: indicationsHYSINGLA 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
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Ketorolac label of August 31, 2023, Hydrocodone label of May 29, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ketorolac and hydrocodone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, ketorolac is a cyclooxygenase inhibitor and hydrocodone an opioid agonist.
How each works, in its label's words: Ketorolac, “of ketorolac, like that of other NSAIDs, is not completely understood but may be related to prostaglandin synthetase inhibition.”; Hydrocodone, “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.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Ketorolac, “The half-life of the ketorolac tromethamine S-enantiomer was approximately 2.5 hours (SD ± 0.4) compared with 5 hours …”; Hydrocodone, “The mean terminal half-life (t 1/2 ) was similar for all HYSINGLA ER dose strengths ranging from 7 to 9 hours.”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: ketorolac since 1997; hydrocodone since 2020 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: ketorolac none; hydrocodone CII.
| Ketorolac | Hydrocodone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug | Opioid Agonist |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | The mean terminal half-life (t 1/2 ) was similar for all HYSINGLA ER dose strengths ranging from 7 to 9 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 30, 1989 | October 25, 2013 |
| First generic approved | May 16, 1997 | January 21, 2020 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 60 labelers | 1 labeler |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) | $7.95 per capsule (Hydrocodone ER 15 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | +34% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | In shortage | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 24 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 5,597 | 43,191 |
| DEA schedule | none | CII |
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 precautionsUse 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 …
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to ketorolac
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions