Two medicines, side by side
Ketorolac vs meloxicam
Ketorolac and meloxicam are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of ketorolac since 1989 and of meloxicam since 2000. Pharmacies paid $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) and $0.0166 per meloxicam 7.5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, ketorolac is a cyclooxygenase inhibitor and meloxicam a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
Check it at the source: the ketorolac FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 31, 2023); the meloxicam FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 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 meloxicam record
Meloxicam (Mobic) · label of January 29, 2026
RISK OF SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR AND GASTROINTESTINAL EVENTS Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
Used for
From the label: indicationsINDICATIONS AND USAGE Meloxicam tablets are a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indicated for: Osteoarthritis (OA) (1.1) Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) (1.2) Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) in patients who weigh ≥60 kg (1.3) 1.1 Osteoarthritis (OA) Meloxicam tablets are indicated for relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. 1.2 Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Meloxicam tablets […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 13, 2000
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0166 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Ketorolac label of August 31, 2023, Meloxicam label of January 29, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ketorolac and meloxicam differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, ketorolac is a cyclooxygenase inhibitor and meloxicam a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
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.”; Meloxicam, “The mechanism of action of meloxicam, like that of other NSAIDs, is not completely understood but involves inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2).”
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 …”; Meloxicam, “The mean elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) ranges from 15 hours to 20 hours.”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: ketorolac since 1997; meloxicam since 2006 (Drugs@FDA).
| Ketorolac | Meloxicam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug |
| 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. | Meloxicam has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties. The mechanism of action of meloxicam, like that of other NSAIDs, is not completely understood but involves inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2). |
| 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 elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) ranges from 15 hours to 20 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 30, 1989 | April 13, 2000 |
| First generic approved | May 16, 1997 | July 19, 2006 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 60 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) | $0.0166 per tablet (Meloxicam 7.5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | +0.8% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | In shortage | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 24 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 5,597 | 57,757 |
| 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