Two medicines, side by side
Clonidine vs labetalol
Clonidine and labetalol are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clonidine since 1974 and of labetalol since 1984. Pharmacies paid $0.0241 per clonidine HCl 0.1 mg tablet and $0.215 per labetalol HCl 300 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 labetalol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the clonidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 30, 2026); the labetalol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 2, 2026).
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 labetalol record
Labetalol (Trandate) · label of March 2, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsLabetalol hydrochloride tablets, USP are indicated in the management of hypertension. Labetalol hydrochloride tablets USP may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents, especially thiazide and loop diuretics.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 1, 1984
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.215 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 6
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clonidine label of March 30, 2026, Labetalol label of March 2, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clonidine and labetalol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, clonidine is a central alpha-2 adrenergic agonist and labetalol 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 …”; Labetalol, “The plasma half-life of labetalol following oral administration is about 6 to 8 hours.”
Generics: clonidine since 1986; labetalol since 1998 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clonidine | Labetalol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, ADHD, Pain | High blood pressure |
| 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 plasma half-life of labetalol following oral administration is about 6 to 8 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 3, 1974 | August 1, 1984 |
| First generic approved | July 1, 1986 | August 3, 1998 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0241 per tablet (Clonidine HCl 0.1 mg tablet) | $0.215 per tablet (Labetalol HCl 300 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -3% | +3% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 16 | 6 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 57,116 | 13,250 |
| 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 clonidine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions