Two medicines, side by side
Acebutolol vs nebivolol
Acebutolol and nebivolol are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of acebutolol since 1984 and of nebivolol since 2007. Pharmacies paid $0.615 per acebutolol 200 mg capsule and $0.141 per nebivolol 10 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 nebivolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 1, 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 nebivolol record
Nebivolol (Bystolic) · label of August 1, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsINDICATIONS AND USAGE BYSTOLIC is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. ( 1.1 ) 1.1 Hypertension BYSTOLIC is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )]. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 17, 2007
- Generic labelers
- 23 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.141 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 5
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Acebutolol label of December 11, 2024, Nebivolol label of August 1, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do acebutolol and nebivolol 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 …”; Nebivolol, “The active isomer (d-nebivolol) has an effective half-life of about 12 hours in CYP2D6 extensive metabolizers (most …”
Generics: acebutolol since 1995; nebivolol since 2015 (Drugs@FDA).
| Acebutolol | Nebivolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | The mechanism of action of the antihypertensive response of BYSTOLIC has not been definitively established. |
| 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 active isomer (d-nebivolol) has an effective half-life of about 12 hours in CYP2D6 extensive metabolizers (most people), and 19 hours in poor metabolizers and exposure to d-nebivolol is substantially increased in … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 28, 1984 | December 17, 2007 |
| First generic approved | April 24, 1995 | April 16, 2015 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 6 labelers | 23 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.615 per capsule (Acebutolol 200 mg capsule) | $0.141 per tablet (Nebivolol 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -0.3% | +0.8% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 5 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,258 | 33,555 |
| 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