Two medicines, side by side
Amlodipine vs captopril
Amlodipine and captopril are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of amlodipine since 1992 and of captopril since 1981. Pharmacies paid $0.0102 per amlodipine besylate 5 mg tablet and $0.228 per captopril 12.5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker and captopril an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the amlodipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 15, 2023); the captopril FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 6, 2026).
Highlights of the amlodipine record
Amlodipine (Norvasc) · label of February 15, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsNORVASC is a calcium channel blocker and may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive and antianginal agents for the treatment of: • Hypertension ( 1.1 ) o NORVASC is 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. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 31, 1992
- Generic labelers
- 42 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0102 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 30
Highlights of the captopril record
Captopril (Capoten) · label of February 6, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue captopril tablets as soon as possible. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus. See WARNINGS: Fetal Toxicity
Used for
From the label: indicationsHypertension Captopril tablets are indicated for the treatment of hypertension. In using captopril tablets, consideration should be given to the risk of neutropenia/agranulocytosis (see WARNINGS ). Captopril tablets may be used as initial therapy for patients with normal renal function, in whom the risk is relatively low. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 6, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 13 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.228 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Amlodipine label of February 15, 2023, Captopril label of February 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do amlodipine and captopril differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker and captopril an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.
Only the captopril label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: amlodipine since 2005; captopril since 1995 (Drugs@FDA).
| Amlodipine | Captopril | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart attack and coronary artery disease | High blood pressure, Heart failure, Chronic kidney disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Calcium Channel Blocker, Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist (calcium ion antagonist or slow‑channel blocker) that inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The apparent elimination half-life for total radioactivity in blood is probably less than 3 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | July 31, 1992 | April 6, 1981 |
| First generic approved | October 3, 2005 | March 31, 1995 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 42 labelers | 13 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0102 per tablet (Amlodipine besylate 5 mg tablet) | $0.228 per tablet (Captopril 12.5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | -28% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 30 | 5 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 409,186 | 9,557 |
| 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 amlodipine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions