Two medicines, side by side
Acebutolol vs aliskiren
Acebutolol and aliskiren are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of acebutolol since 1984 and of aliskiren since 2007. Pharmacies paid $0.615 per acebutolol 200 mg capsule and $3.94 per aliskiren 150 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, acebutolol is a beta-adrenergic blocker and aliskiren a renin inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the acebutolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 11, 2024); the aliskiren FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 7, 2024).
Highlights of the acebutolol record
Acebutolol (Sectral) · label of December 11, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsHypertension Acebutolol hydrochloride capsules are indicated for the management of hypertension in adults. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents, especially thiazide-type diuretics. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 28, 1984
- Generic labelers
- 6 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.615 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the aliskiren record
Aliskiren (Tekturna) · label of March 7, 2024
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Tekturna as soon as possible. ( 5.1 , 8.1 ) Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus. ( 5.1 , 8.1 ) WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Tekturna as soon as possible. ( 5.1 , 8.1 ) Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus.
Used for
From the label: indicationsTekturna is a renin inhibitor (RI) indicated for the treatment of hypertension in adults and in pediatric patients weighing 50 kg or greater who are at least 6 years of age, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- March 5, 2007
- Generic labelers
- 1 labeler
- Pharmacy cost
- $3.94 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Acebutolol label of December 11, 2024, Aliskiren label of March 7, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do acebutolol and aliskiren differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, acebutolol is a beta-adrenergic blocker and aliskiren a renin inhibitor.
Half-life, in each label's words: Acebutolol, “The plasma elimination half-life of acebutolol is approximately 3 to 4 hours, while that of its metabolite, diacetolol …”; Aliskiren, “12.3 Pharmacokinetics Aliskiren is poorly absorbed (bioavailability about 2.5%) with an approximate accumulation …”
Only the aliskiren label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: acebutolol since 1995; aliskiren since 2019 (Drugs@FDA).
| Acebutolol | Aliskiren | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | Renin Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Renin is secreted by the kidney in response to decreases in blood volume and renal perfusion. Renin cleaves angiotensinogen to form the inactive decapeptide angiotensin I (Ang I). |
| Half-life (label) | The plasma elimination half-life of acebutolol is approximately 3 to 4 hours, while that of its metabolite, diacetolol, is 8 to 13 hours. | 12.3 Pharmacokinetics Aliskiren is poorly absorbed (bioavailability about 2.5%) with an approximate accumulation half-life of 24 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 28, 1984 | March 5, 2007 |
| First generic approved | April 24, 1995 | March 22, 2019 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 6 labelers | 1 labeler |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.615 per capsule (Acebutolol 200 mg capsule) | $3.94 per tablet (Aliskiren 150 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -0.3% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,258 | 5,999 |
| 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 acebutolol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions