Two medicines, side by side
Candesartan vs telmisartan
Candesartan and telmisartan are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of candesartan since 1998 and of telmisartan since 1998. Pharmacies paid $0.478 per candesartan cilexetil 16 mg tablet and $0.106 per telmisartan 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the candesartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 15, 2026); the telmisartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 29, 2026).
Highlights of the candesartan record
Candesartan (Atacand) · label of January 15, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue candesartan cilexetil as soon as possible [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) and Use in Specific Populations ( 8.1 )]. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) and Use in Specific Populations ( 8.1 )]. WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
Used for
From the label: indicationsCandesartan cilexetil is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: Treatment of hypertension in adults and children 1 to < 17 years of age, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions (1.1). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 4, 1998
- Generic labelers
- 8 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.478 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 9
Highlights of the telmisartan record
Telmisartan (Micardis) · label of May 29, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue telmisartan as soon as possible [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]. WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warnings.
Used for
From the label: indicationsTelmisartanis an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: 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 Telmisartan is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 10, 1998
- Generic labelers
- 28 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.106 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Candesartan label of January 15, 2026, Telmisartan label of May 29, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do candesartan and telmisartan differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class angiotensin 2 receptor blockers.
Half-life, in each label's words: Candesartan, “The elimination half-life of candesartan is approximately 9 hours.”; Telmisartan, “Telmisartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 24 hours.”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: candesartan since 2013; telmisartan since 2014 (Drugs@FDA).
| Candesartan | Telmisartan | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure | High blood pressure, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II). | Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II). |
| Half-life (label) | The elimination half-life of candesartan is approximately 9 hours. | Telmisartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 24 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 4, 1998 | November 10, 1998 |
| First generic approved | May 3, 2013 | January 8, 2014 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 8 labelers | 28 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.478 per tablet (Candesartan cilexetil 16 mg tablet) | $0.106 per tablet (Telmisartan 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -15% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 9 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 60,889 | 17,745 |
| 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 candesartan
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions