Two medicines, side by side
Aliskiren vs aripiprazole
Aliskiren is labeled for high blood pressure; aripiprazole for depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of aliskiren since 2007 and of aripiprazole since 2002. Pharmacies paid $3.94 per aliskiren 150 mg tablet and $0.110 per aripiprazole 5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, aliskiren is a renin inhibitor and aripiprazole an atypical antipsychotic.
Check it at the source: the aliskiren FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 7, 2024); the aripiprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 2025).
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
Highlights of the aripiprazole record
Aripiprazole (Abilify) · label of January 29, 2025
INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS WITH ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. ABILIFY is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsABILIFY (aripiprazole) Tablets are indicated for the treatment of: Schizophrenia Acute Treatment of Manic and Mixed Episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder Treatment of Tourette's Disorder ABILIFY is an atypical antipsychotic. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 15, 2002
- Generic labelers
- 47 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.110 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 25
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Aliskiren label of March 7, 2024, Aripiprazole label of January 29, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do aliskiren and aripiprazole differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, aliskiren is a renin inhibitor and aripiprazole an atypical antipsychotic.
How each works, in its label's words: Aliskiren, “Renin is secreted by the kidney in response to decreases in blood volume and renal perfusion.”; Aripiprazole, “The mechanism of action of aripiprazole in schizophrenia or bipolar mania, is unclear.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Aliskiren, “12.3 Pharmacokinetics Aliskiren is poorly absorbed (bioavailability about 2.5%) with an approximate accumulation …”; Aripiprazole, “For CYP2D6 poor metabolizers, the mean elimination half-life for aripiprazole is about 146 hours.”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: aliskiren since 2019; aripiprazole since 2015 (Drugs@FDA).
| Aliskiren | Aripiprazole | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | Depression, Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia |
| Pharmacologic class | Renin Inhibitor | Atypical Antipsychotic |
| How it works (label) | 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). | The mechanism of action of aripiprazole in schizophrenia or bipolar mania, is unclear. |
| Half-life (label) | 12.3 Pharmacokinetics Aliskiren is poorly absorbed (bioavailability about 2.5%) with an approximate accumulation half-life of 24 hours. | For CYP2D6 poor metabolizers, the mean elimination half-life for aripiprazole is about 146 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | March 5, 2007 | November 15, 2002 |
| First generic approved | March 22, 2019 | April 28, 2015 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 1 labeler | 47 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $3.94 per tablet (Aliskiren 150 mg tablet) | $0.110 per tablet (Aripiprazole 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | +3% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 25 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 5,999 | 121,736 |
| 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 aliskiren
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions