Two medicines, side by side
Chlorthalidone vs telmisartan
Chlorthalidone and telmisartan are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of chlorthalidone since 1960 and of telmisartan since 1998. Pharmacies paid $0.0743 per chlorthalidone 25 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. Chlorthalidone's other strengths are brand-only: $0.957 per Hemiclor 12.5 mg tablet. In FDA's classes, chlorthalidone is a thiazide-like diuretic and telmisartan an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker.
Check it at the source: the chlorthalidone FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 5, 2026); the telmisartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 29, 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 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 (Chlorthalidone label of August 5, 2026, Telmisartan label of May 29, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do chlorthalidone and telmisartan differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, chlorthalidone is a thiazide-like diuretic and telmisartan an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker.
Half-life, in each label's words: Chlorthalidone, “The mean half-life following a 50 to 200 mg dose is 40 hours.”; Telmisartan, “Telmisartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 24 hours.”
Only the telmisartan label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: chlorthalidone since 1981; telmisartan since 2014 (Drugs@FDA).
| Chlorthalidone | Telmisartan | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure, Edema (fluid retention) | High blood pressure, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Thiazide-like Diuretic | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II). |
| Half-life (label) | The mean half-life following a 50 to 200 mg dose is 40 hours. | Telmisartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 24 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 7, 1960 | November 10, 1998 |
| First generic approved | February 26, 1981 | January 8, 2014 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 36 labelers | 28 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0743 per tablet (Chlorthalidone 25 mg tablet) | $0.106 per tablet (Telmisartan 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 11,545 | 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 chlorthalidone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions