Two medicines, side by side
Morphine vs oxymorphone
Morphine and oxymorphone are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of morphine since 1984 and of oxymorphone since 1959. How each works, in its label's words: Morphine, “Morphine is a full opioid agonist is relatively selective for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can bind to other opioid receptors at higher doses.”; Oxymorphone, “Oxymorphone 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 morphine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 13, 2026); the oxymorphone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 29, 2026).
Highlights of the morphine record
Morphine (Duramorph) · label of July 13, 2026
ADDICTION, ABUSE, AND MISUSE; RISK EVALUATION AND MITIGATION STRATEGY (REMS); LIFE-THREATENING RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION; ACCIDENTAL INGESTION; NEONATAL OPIOID WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME; and RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH BENZODIAZEPINES OR OTHER CNS DEPRESSANTS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Morphine sulfate exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death.
Used for
From the label: indicationsMorphine sulfate extended-release tablets are indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 18, 1984
- Generic labelers
- 22 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.226 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 66
Highlights of the oxymorphone record
Oxymorphone (Opana) · label of June 29, 2026
SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF OXYMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS WARNING: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF OXYMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of oxymorphone 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 (5.1)].
Used for
From the label: indicationsOxymorphone hydrochloride tablets is 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
- April 2, 1959
- Generic labelers
- 9 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Morphine label of July 13, 2026, Oxymorphone label of June 29, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do morphine and oxymorphone differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Morphine, “Morphine is a full opioid agonist is relatively selective for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can bind to other opioid receptors at higher doses.”; Oxymorphone, “Oxymorphone 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: Morphine, “Excretion The elimination of morphine occurs primarily as renal excretion of M3G and its effective half-life after …”; Oxymorphone, “Elimination Oxymorphone hydrochloride tablets half-life ranges from approximately 9-11 hours after a single oral dose …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: morphine since 1986; oxymorphone since 2010 (Drugs@FDA).
| Morphine | Oxymorphone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Opioid Agonist | Opioid Agonist |
| How it works (label) | Morphine is a full opioid agonist is relatively selective for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can bind to other opioid receptors at higher doses. The principal therapeutic action of morphine is analgesia. | Oxymorphone 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 oxymorphone is analgesia. |
| Half-life (label) | Excretion The elimination of morphine occurs primarily as renal excretion of M3G and its effective half-life after intravenous administration is normally 2 to 4 hours. | Elimination Oxymorphone hydrochloride tablets half-life ranges from approximately 9-11 hours after a single oral dose (5-40 mg). |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 18, 1984 | April 2, 1959 |
| First generic approved | October 7, 1986 | June 14, 2010 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 22 labelers | 9 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.226 per tablet (Morphine sulfate ir 15 mg tablet) | n/a |
| 12-month price change | -12% | n/a |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | In shortage | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 66 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 120,591 | 11,596 |
| 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?
Oxymorphone label, warnings and precautionsRisks from Concomitant Use with Benzodiazepines and Other CNS Depressants Patients must not consume alcoholic beverages or prescription or non-prescription products containing alcohol while on oxymorphone hydrochloride tablets therapy.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to morphine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions