Two medicines, side by side
Lidocaine vs menthol
Lidocaine and menthol are both labeled for pain. Pharmacies paid $0.154 per gram (Lidocaine 5% ointment) and $0.0424 per unit (Cough drops 5.8 mg) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Lidocaine's other strengths are brand-only: $12.31 per unit (Ztlido 1.8% topical system).
Check it at the source: the lidocaine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 13, 2024); the menthol FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 24, 2024).
Highlights of the lidocaine record
Lidocaine (Xylocaine) · label of May 13, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsXylocaine (lidocaine HCl) Injections are indicated for production of local or regional anesthesia by infiltration techniques such as percutaneous injection and intravenous regional anesthesia by peripheral nerve block techniques such as brachial plexus and intercostal and by central neural techniques such as lumbar and caudal epidural blocks, when the accepted procedures for these techniques as described in standard textbooks are observed. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 19, 1948
- Generic labelers
- 81 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.154 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 39
Highlights of the menthol record
Menthol · label of April 24, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationstemporarily relieves: cough as may occur with a cold occasional minor irritation and sore throat
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0424 per unit
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Lidocaine label of May 13, 2024, Menthol label of April 24, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do lidocaine and menthol differ on the record?
Generics: lidocaine since 1971; menthol none approved (Drugs@FDA).
| Lidocaine | Menthol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Pain, Cough and cold |
| Pharmacologic class | Amide Local Anesthetic, Antiarrhythmic | n/a |
| How it works (label) | Mechanism of Action Lidocaine HCl stabilizes the neuronal membrane by inhibiting the ionic fluxes required for the initiation and conduction of impulses thereby effecting local anesthetic action. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The elimination half-life of lidocaine HCl following an intravenous bolus injection is typically 1.5 to 2 hours. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 19, 1948 | n/a |
| First generic approved | June 30, 1971 | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 81 labelers | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.154 per gram (Lidocaine 5% ointment) | $0.0424 per unit (Cough drops 5.8 mg) |
| 12-month price change | -8% | +17% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | In shortage | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 39 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 71,853 | 3,369 |
| 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 lidocaine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions