Two medicines, side by side
Clonidine vs nicardipine
Clonidine and nicardipine are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clonidine since 1974 and of nicardipine since 1988. Pharmacies paid $0.0241 per clonidine HCl 0.1 mg tablet and $1.12 per nicardipine 20 mg capsule (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 nicardipine a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker.
Check it at the source: the clonidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 30, 2026); the nicardipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 24, 2024).
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 nicardipine record
Nicardipine (Cardene) · label of August 24, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsNicardipine hydrochloride injection, USP is a calcium channel blocker indicated for the short-term treatment of hypertension when oral therapy is not feasible. 1.1 Hypertension Nicardipine hydrochloride injection, USP is indicated for the short-term treatment of hypertension when oral therapy is not feasible or desirable. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 21, 1988
- Generic labelers
- 25 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.12 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clonidine label of March 30, 2026, Nicardipine label of August 24, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clonidine and nicardipine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, clonidine is a central alpha-2 adrenergic agonist and nicardipine a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker.
Half-life, in each label's words: Clonidine, “Following intravenous administration, clonidine displays biphasic disposition with a distribution half-life of about 20 …”; Nicardipine, “Following infusion, nicardipine plasma concentrations decline triexponentially, with a rapid early distribution phase …”
Generics: clonidine since 1986; nicardipine since 1996 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clonidine | Nicardipine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, ADHD, Pain | High blood pressure, Angina |
| Pharmacologic class | Central alpha-2 Adrenergic Agonist | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Nicardipine inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into cardiac muscle and smooth muscle without changing serum calcium concentrations. |
| 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. | Following infusion, nicardipine plasma concentrations decline triexponentially, with a rapid early distribution phase (α-half-life of 3 minutes), an intermediate phase (ß-half-life of 45 minutes), and a slow terminal … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 3, 1974 | December 21, 1988 |
| First generic approved | July 1, 1986 | July 18, 1996 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 25 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0241 per tablet (Clonidine HCl 0.1 mg tablet) | $1.12 per capsule (Nicardipine 20 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -3% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 16 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 57,116 | 4,340 |
| 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