Two medicines, side by side
Digoxin vs furosemide
Digoxin and furosemide are both labeled for heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of digoxin since 1954 and of furosemide since 1966. Pharmacies paid $0.133 per digoxin 125 mcg tablet and $0.490 per mL (Furosemide 20 mg/2 mL vial) (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 furosemide a loop diuretic.
Check it at the source: the digoxin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 5, 2024); the furosemide FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 30, 2025).
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 furosemide record
Furosemide (Lasix) · label of September 30, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsEdema LASIX is indicated in adults and pediatric patients for the treatment of edema associated with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and renal disease, including the nephrotic syndrome. LASIX is particularly useful when an agent with greater diuretic potential is desired. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 1, 1966
- Generic labelers
- 52 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.490 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 8
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Digoxin label of December 5, 2024, Furosemide label of September 30, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do digoxin and furosemide differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, digoxin is a cardiac glycoside and furosemide a loop diuretic.
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.”; Furosemide, “The terminal half-life of furosemide is approximately 2 hours.”
Generics: digoxin since 1975; furosemide since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Digoxin | Furosemide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Heart failure, Atrial fibrillation | Heart failure, High blood pressure, Edema (fluid retention) |
| Pharmacologic class | Cardiac Glycoside | Loop Diuretic |
| 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 … | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | In healthy volunteers with normal renal function, digoxin has a half-life of 1.5-2 days. | The terminal half-life of furosemide is approximately 2 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 16, 1954 | July 1, 1966 |
| First generic approved | October 24, 1975 | September 26, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 26 labelers | 52 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.133 per tablet (Digoxin 125 mcg tablet) | $0.490 per mL (Furosemide 20 mg/2 mL vial) |
| 12-month price change | +20% | +31% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 71,335 | 398,354 |
| 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 digoxin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions