Two medicines, side by side
Ketorolac vs oxycodone
Ketorolac and oxycodone are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of ketorolac since 1989 and of oxycodone since 1998. Pharmacies paid $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) and $0.0884 per oxycodone HCl (ir) 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 oxycodone an opioid agonist.
Check it at the source: the ketorolac FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 31, 2023); the oxycodone FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 6, 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 oxycodone record
Oxycodone (Oxycontin) · label of May 6, 2026
SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF OXYCODONE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS WARNING: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF OXYCODONE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Oxycodone hydrochloride tablets expose users to risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Assess patient's risk before prescribing and reassess regularly for these behaviors and conditions.
Used for
From the label: indicationsOxycodone Hydrochloride Tablets, USP are indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. Oxycodone hydrochloride tablets are an opioid agonist indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 26, 1998
- Generic labelers
- 32 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0884 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 11
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Ketorolac label of August 31, 2023, Oxycodone label of May 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ketorolac and oxycodone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, ketorolac is a cyclooxygenase inhibitor and oxycodone 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.”; Oxycodone, “Oxycodone is a full opioid agonist and is relatively selective for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can bind to 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 …”; Oxycodone, “Apparent elimination half-life of oxycodone following the administration of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets was 3.5 to …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: ketorolac since 1997; oxycodone since 2004 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: ketorolac none; oxycodone CII.
| Ketorolac | Oxycodone | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Oxycodone is a full opioid agonist and is relatively selective for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can bind to other opioid receptors at higher doses. The principal therapeutic action of oxycodone 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. | Apparent elimination half-life of oxycodone following the administration of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets was 3.5 to 4 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 30, 1989 | October 26, 1998 |
| First generic approved | May 16, 1997 | February 6, 2004 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 60 labelers | 32 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1.02 per mL (Ketorolac 30 mg/mL vial) | $0.0884 per tablet (Oxycodone HCl (ir) 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | In shortage | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 24 | 11 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 5,597 | 311,625 |
| 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?
Oxycodone label, warnings and precautionsRisks from Concomitant Use with Benzodiazepines or Other CNS Depressants Profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death may result from the concomitant use of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets with benzodiazepines and/or other CNS depressants, including alcohol (e.g., non-benzodiazepine sedatives/hypnotics, anxiolytics, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, gabapentinoids …
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to ketorolac
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions