FDA pharmacologic class
Beta blockers
16 medicines are in FDA's class of beta-adrenergic blockers (beta blockers): metoprolol (Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol, atenolol (Tenormin), nebivolol (Bystolic), timolol (Timoptic), nadolol and 8 more; 5 combination products also contain one. 20 of the 21 are listed from generic labelers (FDA NDC Directory, October 8, 2026). The lowest pharmacy cost is carvedilol 6.25 mg tablet at $0.0179 per tablet (NADAC).
Which medicines are beta blockers?
| Medicine | Brand names | Generic labelers (all forms) | Pharmacy cost | Boxed warning | Shortage | Recalls since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metoprolol | Toprol, Kapspargo, Lopressor | 74 labelers | $0.085 per tablet 100 mg tablet | No | A presentation being discontinued | 39 |
| Propranolol | Inderal, Innopran, Hemangeol | 42 labelers | $0.0493 per tablet 20 mg tablet | No | In shortage | 4 |
| Carvedilol | Coreg | 41 labelers | $0.0179 per tablet 6.25 mg tablet | No | No current entry | 22 |
| Labetalol | none listed | 43 labelers | $0.215 per tablet 300 mg tablet | No | No current entry | 6 |
| Atenolol | Tenormin | 35 labelers | $0.0217 per tablet 25 mg tablet | No | No current entry | 4 |
| Nebivolol | Bystolic | 23 labelers | $0.141 per tablet 10 mg tablet | No | A presentation being discontinued | 5 |
| Timolol | Timoptic, Betimol, Timoptic-Xe | 22 labelers | $0.774 per mL 0.5% eye drops | No | No current entry | 20 |
| Nadolol | none listed | 16 labelers | $0.147 per tablet 20 mg tablet | No | No current entry | 2 |
| Bisoprolol | none listed | 24 labelers | $0.114 per tablet 5 mg tablet | No | No current entry | 2 |
| Bisoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide | none listed | 11 labelers | $0.209 per tablet 10-6.25 mg tablet | No | No current entry | 4 |
| Esmolol | Brevibloc | 12 labelers | n/a | No | No current entry | 3 |
| Dorzolamide and timolol | Cosopt | 14 labelers | $0.893 per mL Dorzolamide-timolol eye drops | No | No current entry | 1 |
| Brimonidine and timolol | Combigan | 14 labelers | $2.15 per mL 0.2%-0.5% | No | No current entry | 5 |
| Pindolol | none listed | 8 labelers | $0.854 per tablet 10 mg tablet | No | A presentation being discontinued | 0 |
| Atenolol and chlorthalidone | none listed | 10 labelers | $0.335 per unit 100-25 | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Hydrochlorothiazide and metoprolol | none listed | 5 labelers | $1.41 per tablet 100-25 mg tablet | No | No current entry | 1 |
| Acebutolol | none listed | 6 labelers | $0.615 per capsule 200 mg capsule | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Betaxolol | Betoptic | 3 labelers | $0.591 per tablet 10 mg tablet | No | No current entry | 3 |
| Carteolol | none listed | 1 labeler | $1.63 per mL 1% eye drops | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Landiolol | Rapiblyk | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Levobunolol | none listed | 1 labeler | $2.82 per mL 0.5% eye drops | No | No current entry | 0 |
Source: FDA Established Pharmacologic Class (NDC Directory, openFDA); CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026; FDA shortages and recalls (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay?
Each medicine's most widely listed form, per unit, in the NADAC survey: what pharmacies paid, not what a patient pays; strengths differ, so compare like with like.
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price