Two medicines, side by side

Naproxen vs oxycodone

Naproxen and oxycodone are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of naproxen since 1976 and of oxycodone since 1998. Pharmacies paid $0.0565 per naproxen 500 mg tablet 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, naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and oxycodone an opioid agonist.

Check it at the source: the naproxen FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 12, 2026); the oxycodone FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 6, 2026).

Highlights of the naproxen record

Naproxen (Aleve) · label of March 12, 2026

Used for

From the label: indications
temporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to: minor pain of arthritis muscular aches backache menstrual cramps headache toothache the common cold temporarily reduces fever

On the market

Earliest approval on file: March 11, 1976
Generic labelers: 139 labelers
Pharmacy cost: $0.0565 per tablet

Supply and safety

Shortage: No current entry
Recalls: 8

Highlights of the oxycodone record

Oxycodone (Oxycontin) · label of May 6, 2026

Boxed warning

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: indications
Oxycodone 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 (Naproxen label of March 12, 2026, Oxycodone label of May 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)

How do naproxen and oxycodone differ on the record?

In FDA's classes, naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and oxycodone an opioid agonist.

Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.

Generics: naproxen since 1992; oxycodone since 2004 (Drugs@FDA).

DEA schedule: naproxen none; oxycodone CII.

	Naproxen	Oxycodone
Labeled for	Fever, Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Gout, Pain, Cough and cold	Pain
Pharmacologic class	Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug	Opioid Agonist
How it works (label)	n/a	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)	n/a	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)	March 11, 1976	October 26, 1998
First generic approved	October 30, 1992	February 6, 2004
Generic labelers (NDC)	139 labelers	32 labelers
Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ)	$0.0565 per tablet (Naproxen 500 mg tablet)	$0.0884 per tablet (Oxycodone HCl (ir) 5 mg tablet)
12-month price change	-9%	-6%
Boxed warning	Yes	Yes
Shortage now	No current entry	No current entry
Recalls recorded	8	11
FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used)	142,225	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?

Naproxen label, drug interactions (prescription label)
Concomitant use of naproxen with other NSAIDs or salicylates (e.g., diflunisal, salsalate) increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ) ].

Oxycodone label, warnings and precautions
Risks 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?

Naproxen: the full record
Oxycodone: the full record
Alternatives to naproxen: every medicine labeled for the same conditions