Two medicines, side by side
Meperidine vs oxycodone
Meperidine and oxycodone are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of meperidine since 1942 and of oxycodone since 1998. Pharmacies paid $0.157 per mL (Meperidine 50 mg/5 mL solution) 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. How each works, in its label's words: Meperidine, “Meperidine is an opioid agonist with multiple actions qualitatively similar to those of morphine; the most prominent of these involve the central nervous system and organs composed of smooth muscle.”; 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.”
Check it at the source: the meperidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 29, 2025); the oxycodone FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 6, 2026).
Highlights of the meperidine record
Meperidine (Demerol) · label of November 29, 2025
SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF MEPERIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of Meperidine hydrochloride tablets 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 (5.2) ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsMeperidine hydrochloride tablets are indicated for the management of acute pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 10, 1942
- Generic labelers
- 3 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.157 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- Listed; available
- Recalls
- 0
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 (Meperidine label of November 29, 2025, Oxycodone label of May 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do meperidine and oxycodone differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Meperidine, “Meperidine is an opioid agonist with multiple actions qualitatively similar to those of morphine; the most prominent of these involve the central nervous system and organs composed of smooth muscle.”; 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.”
Both are in FDA's class opioid agonists.
Half-life, in each label's words: Meperidine, “Elimination The elimination half-life is 3 to 8 hours in healthy volunteers.”; 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: meperidine since 1972; oxycodone since 2004 (Drugs@FDA).
| Meperidine | Oxycodone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Opioid Agonist | Opioid Agonist |
| How it works (label) | Meperidine is an opioid agonist with multiple actions qualitatively similar to those of morphine; the most prominent of these involve the central nervous system and organs composed of smooth muscle. | 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) | Elimination The elimination half-life is 3 to 8 hours in healthy volunteers. | 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 10, 1942 | October 26, 1998 |
| First generic approved | April 26, 1972 | February 6, 2004 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 3 labelers | 32 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.157 per mL (Meperidine 50 mg/5 mL solution) | $0.0884 per tablet (Oxycodone HCl (ir) 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | Listed; available | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 11 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 9,161 | 311,625 |
| DEA schedule | CII | 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?
Meperidine 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 meperidine 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 …
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 meperidine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions