Two medicines, side by side
Captopril vs metoprolol
Captopril and metoprolol are both labeled for high blood pressure and heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of captopril since 1981 and of metoprolol since 1978. Pharmacies paid $0.228 per captopril 12.5 mg tablet and $0.085 per metoprolol succ ER 100 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Metoprolol's other strengths are brand-only: $1.20 per mL (Lopressor 10 mg/mL oral solution). In FDA's classes, captopril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and metoprolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the captopril FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 6, 2026); the metoprolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 3, 2026).
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
Highlights of the metoprolol record
Metoprolol (Lopressor) · label of March 3, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsTOPROL-XL, metoprolol succinate, is a beta-adrenergic blocker indicated for the treatment of: Hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. ( 1.1 ) Angina Pectoris. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 7, 1978
- Generic labelers
- 74 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.085 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 39
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Captopril label of February 6, 2026, Metoprolol label of March 3, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do captopril and metoprolol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, captopril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and metoprolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Half-life, in each label's words: Captopril, “The apparent elimination half-life for total radioactivity in blood is probably less than 3 hours.”; Metoprolol, “Elimination Elimination is mainly by biotransformation in the liver, and the plasma half-life ranges from approximately …”
Only the captopril label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: captopril since 1995; metoprolol since 1993 (Drugs@FDA).
| Captopril | Metoprolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure, Chronic kidney disease | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart failure, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Metoprolol is a beta 1 -selective (cardioselective) adrenergic receptor blocking agent. |
| Half-life (label) | The apparent elimination half-life for total radioactivity in blood is probably less than 3 hours. | Elimination Elimination is mainly by biotransformation in the liver, and the plasma half-life ranges from approximately 3 to 7 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 6, 1981 | August 7, 1978 |
| First generic approved | March 31, 1995 | December 21, 1993 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 13 labelers | 74 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.228 per tablet (Captopril 12.5 mg tablet) | $0.085 per tablet (Metoprolol succ ER 100 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -28% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 39 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 9,557 | 353,609 |
| 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 captopril
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions