Two medicines, side by side
Chlorthalidone vs hydrochlorothiazide
Chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide are both labeled for high blood pressure, heart failure and edema (fluid retention). Drugs@FDA records approvals of chlorthalidone since 1960 and of hydrochlorothiazide since 1959. Pharmacies paid $0.0743 per chlorthalidone 25 mg tablet and $0.0115 per hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026). Chlorthalidone's other strengths are brand-only: $0.957 per Hemiclor 12.5 mg tablet. Hydrochlorothiazide's other strengths are brand-only: $4.46 per mL (Inzirqo 10 mg/mL oral suspension). In FDA's classes, chlorthalidone is a thiazide-like diuretic and hydrochlorothiazide a thiazide diuretic.
Check it at the source: the chlorthalidone FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 5, 2026); the hydrochlorothiazide FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 12, 2026).
Highlights of the chlorthalidone record
Chlorthalidone (Hygroton) · label of August 5, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsDiuretics such as chlorthalidone are indicated in the management of hypertension either as the sole therapeutic agent or to enhance the effect of other antihypertensive drugs in the more severe forms of hypertension. Chlorthalidone is indicated as adjunctive therapy in edema associated with congestive heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, and corticosteroid and estrogen therapy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 7, 1960
- Generic labelers
- 36 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0743 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Highlights of the hydrochlorothiazide record
Hydrochlorothiazide (Inzirqo) · label of June 12, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsHydrochlorothiazide tablets USP are indicated as adjunctive therapy in edema associated with congestive heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, and corticosteroid and estrogen therapy. Hydrochlorothiazide tablets USP have also been found useful in edema due to various forms of renal dysfunction such as nephrotic syndrome, acute glomerulonephritis, and chronic renal failure. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 12, 1959
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0115 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Chlorthalidone label of August 5, 2026, Hydrochlorothiazide label of June 12, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, chlorthalidone is a thiazide-like diuretic and hydrochlorothiazide a thiazide diuretic.
Half-life, in each label's words: Chlorthalidone, “The mean half-life following a 50 to 200 mg dose is 40 hours.”; Hydrochlorothiazide, “When plasma levels have been followed for at least 24 hours, the plasma half-life has been observed to vary between 5.6 …”
Generics: chlorthalidone since 1981; hydrochlorothiazide since 1973 (Drugs@FDA).
| Chlorthalidone | Hydrochlorothiazide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure, Edema (fluid retention) | Heart failure, High blood pressure, Edema (fluid retention) |
| Pharmacologic class | Thiazide-like Diuretic | Thiazide Diuretic |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The mean half-life following a 50 to 200 mg dose is 40 hours. | When plasma levels have been followed for at least 24 hours, the plasma half-life has been observed to vary between 5.6 and 14.8 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 7, 1960 | February 12, 1959 |
| First generic approved | February 26, 1981 | January 12, 1973 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 36 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0743 per tablet (Chlorthalidone 25 mg tablet) | $0.0115 per tablet (Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -7% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 11,545 | 144,413 |
| 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 chlorthalidone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions