Two medicines, side by side
Chlorthalidone vs metoprolol
Chlorthalidone and metoprolol are both labeled for high blood pressure and heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of chlorthalidone since 1960 and of metoprolol since 1978. Pharmacies paid $0.0743 per chlorthalidone 25 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. Chlorthalidone's other strengths are brand-only: $0.957 per Hemiclor 12.5 mg tablet. Metoprolol's other strengths are brand-only: $1.20 per mL (Lopressor 10 mg/mL oral solution). In FDA's classes, chlorthalidone is a thiazide-like diuretic and metoprolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the chlorthalidone FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 5, 2026); the metoprolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 3, 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 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 (Chlorthalidone label of August 5, 2026, Metoprolol label of March 3, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do chlorthalidone and metoprolol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, chlorthalidone is a thiazide-like diuretic and metoprolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Half-life, in each label's words: Chlorthalidone, “The mean half-life following a 50 to 200 mg dose is 40 hours.”; Metoprolol, “Elimination Elimination is mainly by biotransformation in the liver, and the plasma half-life ranges from approximately …”
Generics: chlorthalidone since 1981; metoprolol since 1993 (Drugs@FDA).
| Chlorthalidone | Metoprolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure, Edema (fluid retention) | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart failure, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Thiazide-like Diuretic | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Metoprolol is a beta 1 -selective (cardioselective) adrenergic receptor blocking agent. |
| Half-life (label) | The mean half-life following a 50 to 200 mg dose is 40 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 7, 1960 | August 7, 1978 |
| First generic approved | February 26, 1981 | December 21, 1993 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 36 labelers | 74 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0743 per tablet (Chlorthalidone 25 mg tablet) | $0.085 per tablet (Metoprolol succ ER 100 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | No | 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) | 11,545 | 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 chlorthalidone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions