Two medicines, side by side
Salicylic acid vs lidocaine
Salicylic acid and lidocaine are both labeled for pain. Pharmacies paid $0.102 per callus removers patch and $0.154 per gram (Lidocaine 5% ointment) (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 salicylic acid FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 22, 2024); the lidocaine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 13, 2024).
Highlights of the salicylic acid record
Salicylic acid · label of October 22, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsFor the treatment of acne.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.102 per patch
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
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
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Salicylic acid label of October 22, 2024, Lidocaine label of May 13, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do salicylic acid and lidocaine differ on the record?
Generics: salicylic acid none approved; lidocaine since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Salicylic acid | Lidocaine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acne, Pain, Psoriasis | Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Amide Local Anesthetic, Antiarrhythmic |
| How it works (label) | n/a | 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. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The elimination half-life of lidocaine HCl following an intravenous bolus injection is typically 1.5 to 2 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | n/a | November 19, 1948 |
| First generic approved | none | June 30, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | 81 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.102 per patch (Callus removers patch) | $0.154 per gram (Lidocaine 5% ointment) |
| 12-month price change | +10% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 39 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 52,581 | 71,853 |
| 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 salicylic acid
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions