Two medicines, side by side
Chlorthalidone vs torsemide
Chlorthalidone and torsemide are both labeled for high blood pressure and heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of chlorthalidone since 1960 and of torsemide since 1993. Pharmacies paid $0.0743 per chlorthalidone 25 mg tablet and $0.0636 per torsemide 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 torsemide a loop diuretic.
Check it at the source: the chlorthalidone FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 5, 2026); the torsemide FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 8, 2024).
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 torsemide record
Torsemide (Demadex) · label of May 8, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsTorsemide is a loop diuretic indicated for: the treatment of edema associated with heart failure, renal disease or hepatic disease. ( 1.1 ) the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 23, 1993
- Generic labelers
- 20 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0636 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Chlorthalidone label of August 5, 2026, Torsemide label of May 8, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do chlorthalidone and torsemide differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, chlorthalidone is a thiazide-like diuretic and torsemide a loop diuretic.
Half-life, in each label's words: Chlorthalidone, “The mean half-life following a 50 to 200 mg dose is 40 hours.”; Torsemide, “Elimination In normal subjects the elimination half-life of torsemide is approximately 3.5 hours.”
Generics: chlorthalidone since 1981; torsemide since 2002 (Drugs@FDA).
| Chlorthalidone | Torsemide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure, Edema (fluid retention) | High blood pressure, Heart failure |
| Pharmacologic class | Thiazide-like Diuretic | Loop Diuretic |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Micropuncture studies in animals have shown that torsemide acts from within the lumen of the thick ascending portion of the loop of Henle, where it inhibits the Na + /K + /2Cl – -carrier system. |
| Half-life (label) | The mean half-life following a 50 to 200 mg dose is 40 hours. | Elimination In normal subjects the elimination half-life of torsemide is approximately 3.5 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 7, 1960 | August 23, 1993 |
| First generic approved | February 26, 1981 | May 14, 2002 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 36 labelers | 20 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0743 per tablet (Chlorthalidone 25 mg tablet) | $0.0636 per tablet (Torsemide 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -12% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 11,545 | 32,925 |
| 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