Two medicines, side by side
Digoxin vs carvedilol
Digoxin and carvedilol are both labeled for heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of digoxin since 1954 and of carvedilol since 1995. Pharmacies paid $0.133 per digoxin 125 mcg tablet and $0.0179 per carvedilol 6.25 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, digoxin is a cardiac glycoside and carvedilol an alpha-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the digoxin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 5, 2024); the carvedilol FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 31, 2026).
Highlights of the digoxin record
Digoxin (Lanoxin) · label of December 5, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsLANOXIN is a cardiac glycoside indicated for: Treatment of mild to moderate heart failure in adults. ( 1.1 ) Increasing myocardial contractility in pediatric patients with heart failure. ( 1.2 ) Control of resting ventricular rate in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation in adults. ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Heart Failure in Adults LANOXIN is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate heart failure in adults. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 16, 1954
- Generic labelers
- 26 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.133 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Highlights of the carvedilol record
Carvedilol (Coreg) · label of July 31, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsINDICATIONS AND USAGE COREG is an alpha-/beta-adrenergic blocking agent indicated for the treatment of: mild to severe chronic heart failure ( 1.1 ) left ventricular dysfunction following myocardial infarction in clinically stable patients ( 1.2 ) hypertension ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Heart Failure COREG is indicated for the treatment of mild-to-severe chronic heart failure of ischemic or cardiomyopathic origin, usually in […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 14, 1995
- Generic labelers
- 41 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0179 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 22
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Digoxin label of December 5, 2024, Carvedilol label of July 31, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do digoxin and carvedilol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, digoxin is a cardiac glycoside and carvedilol an alpha-adrenergic blocker.
How each works, in its label's words: Digoxin, “This enzyme, the “sodium pump,” is responsible for maintaining the intracellular milieu throughout the body by moving sodium ions out of and potassium ions into cells.”; Carvedilol, “COREG is a racemic mixture in which nonselective β-adrenoreceptor blocking activity is present in the S(-) enantiomer and α1-adrenergic blocking activity is present in both R(+) and S(-) enantiomers …”
Half-life, in each label's words: Digoxin, “In healthy volunteers with normal renal function, digoxin has a half-life of 1.5-2 days.”; Carvedilol, “Following oral administration, the apparent mean terminal elimination half-life of carvedilol generally ranges from 7 …”
Generics: digoxin since 1975; carvedilol since 2007 (Drugs@FDA).
| Digoxin | Carvedilol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Heart failure, Atrial fibrillation | Heart failure, High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | Cardiac Glycoside | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker, beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | All of digoxin’s actions are mediated through its effects on Na-K ATPase. This enzyme, the “sodium pump,” is responsible for maintaining the intracellular milieu throughout the body by moving sodium ions out of and potassium ions into … | COREG is a racemic mixture in which nonselective β-adrenoreceptor blocking activity is present in the S(-) enantiomer and α1-adrenergic blocking activity is present in both R(+) and S(-) enantiomers at equal potency. |
| Half-life (label) | In healthy volunteers with normal renal function, digoxin has a half-life of 1.5-2 days. | Following oral administration, the apparent mean terminal elimination half-life of carvedilol generally ranges from 7 to 10 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 16, 1954 | September 14, 1995 |
| First generic approved | October 24, 1975 | September 5, 2007 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 26 labelers | 41 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.133 per tablet (Digoxin 125 mcg tablet) | $0.0179 per tablet (Carvedilol 6.25 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +20% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 22 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 71,335 | 137,029 |
| 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?
Digoxin label, drug interactionsCarvedilol; 16%; 14%; Measure serum digoxin concentrations before initiating concomitant drugs. Reduce digoxin concentrations by decreasing the dose by approximately 15-30% or by modifying the dosing frequency and continue monitoring.
Digoxin label, drug interactionsCarvedilol; 16%; 14%; Measure serum digoxin concentrations before initiating concomitant drugs. Reduce digoxin dose by approximately 15% to 30% or by modifying the dosing frequency and continue monitoring.
Carvedilol label, drug interactionsDigoxin concentrations are increased by about 15% when digoxin and carvedilol are administered concomitantly.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to digoxin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions