Two medicines, side by side
Carvedilol vs labetalol
Carvedilol and labetalol are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of carvedilol since 1995 and of labetalol since 1984. Pharmacies paid $0.0179 per carvedilol 6.25 mg tablet and $0.215 per labetalol HCl 300 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, carvedilol is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and labetalol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the carvedilol FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 31, 2026); the labetalol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 2, 2026).
Highlights of the carvedilol record
Carvedilol (Coreg) · label of July 31, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsINDICATIONS AND USAGE COREG is an alpha-/beta-adrenergic blocking agent indicated for the treatment of: mild to severe chronic heart failure ( 1.1 ) left ventricular dysfunction following myocardial infarction in clinically stable patients ( 1.2 ) hypertension ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Heart Failure COREG is indicated for the treatment of mild-to-severe chronic heart failure of ischemic or cardiomyopathic origin, usually in […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 14, 1995
- Generic labelers
- 41 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0179 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 22
Highlights of the labetalol record
Labetalol (Trandate) · label of March 2, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsLabetalol hydrochloride tablets, USP are indicated in the management of hypertension. Labetalol hydrochloride tablets USP may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents, especially thiazide and loop diuretics.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 1, 1984
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.215 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 6
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Carvedilol label of July 31, 2026, Labetalol label of March 2, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do carvedilol and labetalol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, carvedilol is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and labetalol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Half-life, in each label's words: Carvedilol, “Following oral administration, the apparent mean terminal elimination half-life of carvedilol generally ranges from 7 …”; Labetalol, “The plasma half-life of labetalol following oral administration is about 6 to 8 hours.”
Generics: carvedilol since 2007; labetalol since 1998 (Drugs@FDA).
| Carvedilol | Labetalol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Heart failure, High blood pressure | High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker, beta-Adrenergic Blocker | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | COREG is a racemic mixture in which nonselective β-adrenoreceptor blocking activity is present in the S(-) enantiomer and α1-adrenergic blocking activity is present in both R(+) and S(-) enantiomers at equal potency. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Following oral administration, the apparent mean terminal elimination half-life of carvedilol generally ranges from 7 to 10 hours. | The plasma half-life of labetalol following oral administration is about 6 to 8 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 14, 1995 | August 1, 1984 |
| First generic approved | September 5, 2007 | August 3, 1998 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 41 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0179 per tablet (Carvedilol 6.25 mg tablet) | $0.215 per tablet (Labetalol HCl 300 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | +3% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 22 | 6 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 137,029 | 13,250 |
| 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 carvedilol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions