Two medicines, side by side
Acebutolol vs bisoprolol
Acebutolol and bisoprolol are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of acebutolol since 1984 and of bisoprolol since 1992. Pharmacies paid $0.615 per acebutolol 200 mg capsule and $0.114 per bisoprolol fumarate 5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the acebutolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 11, 2024); the bisoprolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 11, 2026).
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 bisoprolol record
Bisoprolol (Zebeta) · label of March 11, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsBisoprolol fumarate tablets are indicated in the management of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 31, 1992
- Generic labelers
- 24 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.114 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Acebutolol label of December 11, 2024, Bisoprolol label of March 11, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do acebutolol and bisoprolol differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class beta-adrenergic blockers.
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 …”; Bisoprolol, “The plasma elimination half-life is 9 to 12 hours and is slightly longer in elderly patients, in part because of …”
Generics: acebutolol since 1995; bisoprolol since 2000 (Drugs@FDA).
| Acebutolol | Bisoprolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| 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. | The plasma elimination half-life is 9 to 12 hours and is slightly longer in elderly patients, in part because of decreased renal function in that population. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 28, 1984 | July 31, 1992 |
| First generic approved | April 24, 1995 | November 16, 2000 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 6 labelers | 24 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.615 per capsule (Acebutolol 200 mg capsule) | $0.114 per tablet (Bisoprolol fumarate 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -0.3% | -39% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,258 | 135,060 |
| 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