Two medicines, side by side
Albuterol vs bisoprolol
Albuterol is labeled for asthma; bisoprolol for high blood pressure. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of albuterol since 1981 and of bisoprolol since 1992. Pharmacies paid $0.288 per albuterol sulfate 2 mg tablet 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. In FDA's classes, albuterol is a beta2-adrenergic agonist and bisoprolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the albuterol FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 30, 2026); the bisoprolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 11, 2026).
Highlights of the albuterol record
Albuterol (Ventolin) · label of April 30, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsAlbuterol Inhalation Solution is indicated for the relief of bronchospasm in patients 2 to 12 years of age with asthma (reversible obstructive airway disease).
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 1, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 40 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.288 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- Resolved
- Recalls
- 20
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 (Albuterol label of April 30, 2026, Bisoprolol label of March 11, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do albuterol and bisoprolol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, albuterol is a beta2-adrenergic agonist and bisoprolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Generics: albuterol since 1989; bisoprolol since 2000 (Drugs@FDA).
| Albuterol | Bisoprolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma | High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | beta2-Adrenergic Agonist | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | 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) | May 1, 1981 | July 31, 1992 |
| First generic approved | January 30, 1989 | November 16, 2000 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 40 labelers | 24 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.288 per tablet (Albuterol sulfate 2 mg tablet) | $0.114 per tablet (Bisoprolol fumarate 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -38% | -39% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | Resolved | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 20 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 292,136 | 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 albuterol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions