Two medicines, side by side
Esmolol vs nicardipine
Esmolol and nicardipine are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of esmolol since 1986 and of nicardipine since 1988. In FDA's classes, esmolol is a beta-adrenergic blocker and nicardipine a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker.
Check it at the source: the esmolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 14, 2025); the nicardipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 24, 2024).
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 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 (Esmolol label of March 14, 2025, Nicardipine label of August 24, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do esmolol and nicardipine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, esmolol is a beta-adrenergic blocker and nicardipine a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker.
How each works, in its label's words: Esmolol, “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 …”; Nicardipine, “Nicardipine inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into cardiac muscle and smooth muscle without changing serum calcium concentrations.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Esmolol, “Its elimination half-life after intravenous infusion is approximately 9 minutes.”; Nicardipine, “Following infusion, nicardipine plasma concentrations decline triexponentially, with a rapid early distribution phase …”
Generics: esmolol since 2004; nicardipine since 1996 (Drugs@FDA).
| Esmolol | Nicardipine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Atrial fibrillation | High blood pressure, Angina |
| Pharmacologic class | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel 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 … | Nicardipine inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into cardiac muscle and smooth muscle without changing serum calcium concentrations. |
| Half-life (label) | Its elimination half-life after intravenous infusion is approximately 9 minutes. | 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) | December 31, 1986 | December 21, 1988 |
| First generic approved | August 10, 2004 | July 18, 1996 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 12 labelers | 25 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | n/a | $1.12 per capsule (Nicardipine 20 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | n/a | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 265 | 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 esmolol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions