Two medicines, side by side
Eplerenone vs furosemide
Eplerenone and furosemide are both labeled for high blood pressure and heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of eplerenone since 2002 and of furosemide since 1966. Pharmacies paid $0.308 per eplerenone 25 mg 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, eplerenone is an aldosterone antagonist and furosemide a loop diuretic.
Check it at the source: the eplerenone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 23, 2025); the furosemide FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 30, 2025).
Highlights of the eplerenone record
Eplerenone (Inspra) · label of June 23, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsINSPRA is an aldosterone antagonist indicated for: • Improving survival of stable adult patients with symptomatic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) after an acute myocardial infarction. ( 1.1 ) • The treatment of hypertension in adults, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 27, 2002
- Generic labelers
- 9 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.308 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
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 (Eplerenone label of June 23, 2025, Furosemide label of September 30, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do eplerenone and furosemide differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, eplerenone is an aldosterone antagonist and furosemide a loop diuretic.
Half-life, in each label's words: Eplerenone, “12.3 Pharmacokinetics Eplerenone is cleared predominantly by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 metabolism, with an elimination …”; Furosemide, “The terminal half-life of furosemide is approximately 2 hours.”
Generics: eplerenone since 2008; furosemide since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Eplerenone | Furosemide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Heart failure, High blood pressure | Heart failure, High blood pressure, Edema (fluid retention) |
| Pharmacologic class | Aldosterone Antagonist | Loop Diuretic |
| How it works (label) | Eplerenone binds to the mineralocorticoid receptor and blocks the binding of aldosterone, a component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system (RAAS). | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | 12.3 Pharmacokinetics Eplerenone is cleared predominantly by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 metabolism, with an elimination half-life of 3 to 6 hours. | The terminal half-life of furosemide is approximately 2 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 27, 2002 | July 1, 1966 |
| First generic approved | July 30, 2008 | September 26, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 9 labelers | 52 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.308 per tablet (Eplerenone 25 mg tablet) | $0.490 per mL (Furosemide 20 mg/2 mL vial) |
| 12-month price change | -31% | +31% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 12,729 | 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 eplerenone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions