Two medicines, side by side
Esmolol vs labetalol
Esmolol and labetalol are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of esmolol since 1986 and of labetalol since 1984.
Check it at the source: the esmolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 14, 2025); the labetalol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 2, 2026).
Highlights of the esmolol record
Esmolol (Brevibloc) · label of March 14, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsBREVIBLOC injection is a beta adrenergic blocker indicated for the short-term treatment of: • Control of ventricular rate in supraventricular tachycardia including atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter and control of heart rate in noncompensatory sinus tachycardia ( 1.1 ) • Control of perioperative tachycardia and hypertension ( 1.2 ) 1.1 Supraventricular Tachycardia or Noncompensatory Sinus Tachycardia BREVIBLOC […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 31, 1986
- Generic labelers
- 12 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
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 (Esmolol label of March 14, 2025, Labetalol label of March 2, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do esmolol and labetalol differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class beta-adrenergic blockers.
Half-life, in each label's words: Esmolol, “Its elimination half-life after intravenous infusion is approximately 9 minutes.”; Labetalol, “The plasma half-life of labetalol following oral administration is about 6 to 8 hours.”
Generics: esmolol since 2004; labetalol since 1998 (Drugs@FDA).
| Esmolol | Labetalol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Atrial fibrillation | High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | BREVIBLOC (Esmolol Hydrochloride) injection is a beta 1 -selective (cardioselective) adrenergic receptor blocking agent with rapid onset, a very short duration of action, and no significant intrinsic sympathomimetic or membrane stabilizing … | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Its elimination half-life after intravenous infusion is approximately 9 minutes. | The plasma half-life of labetalol following oral administration is about 6 to 8 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 31, 1986 | August 1, 1984 |
| First generic approved | August 10, 2004 | August 3, 1998 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 12 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | n/a | $0.215 per tablet (Labetalol HCl 300 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | n/a | +3% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 6 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 265 | 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 esmolol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions