Two medicines, side by side
Clonidine vs atenolol
Clonidine and atenolol are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clonidine since 1974 and of atenolol since 1981. Pharmacies paid $0.0241 per clonidine HCl 0.1 mg tablet and $0.0217 per atenolol 25 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Clonidine's other strengths are brand-only: $1.53 per mL (Javadin 0.02 mg/mL solution). In FDA's classes, clonidine is a central alpha-2 adrenergic agonist and atenolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the clonidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 30, 2026); the atenolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 18, 2025).
Highlights of the clonidine record
Clonidine (Catapres) · label of March 30, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsClonidine hydrochloride tablets are indicated in the treatment of hypertension. Clonidine hydrochloride tablets may be employed alone or concomitantly with other antihypertensive agents.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 3, 1974
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0241 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 16
Highlights of the atenolol record
Atenolol (Tenormin) · label of September 18, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsHypertension TENORMIN is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure lowers the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes including atenolol. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 19, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 35 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0217 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clonidine label of March 30, 2026, Atenolol label of September 18, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clonidine and atenolol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, clonidine is a central alpha-2 adrenergic agonist and atenolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Half-life, in each label's words: Clonidine, “Following intravenous administration, clonidine displays biphasic disposition with a distribution half-life of about 20 …”; Atenolol, “The elimination half-life of oral TENORMIN is approximately 6 to 7 hours, and there is no alteration of the kinetic …”
Generics: clonidine since 1986; atenolol since 1988 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clonidine | Atenolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, ADHD, Pain | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Central alpha-2 Adrenergic Agonist | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Following intravenous administration, clonidine displays biphasic disposition with a distribution half-life of about 20 minutes and an elimination half-life ranging from 12 to 16 hours. | The elimination half-life of oral TENORMIN is approximately 6 to 7 hours, and there is no alteration of the kinetic profile of the drug by chronic administration. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 3, 1974 | August 19, 1981 |
| First generic approved | July 1, 1986 | July 15, 1988 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 35 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0241 per tablet (Clonidine HCl 0.1 mg tablet) | $0.0217 per tablet (Atenolol 25 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -3% | -3% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 16 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 57,116 | 132,491 |
| 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Atenolol label, drug interactionsBeta-blockers may exacerbate the rebound hypertension which can follow the withdrawal of clonidine.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to clonidine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions