Two medicines, side by side
Felodipine vs isradipine
Felodipine and isradipine are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of felodipine since 1991 and of isradipine since 1990. Pharmacies paid $0.123 per felodipine ER 5 mg tablet and $1.70 per isradipine 5 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the felodipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 11, 2026); the isradipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 30, 2023).
Highlights of the felodipine record
Felodipine (Plendil) · label of August 11, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsFelodipine extended-release tablets, USP are indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure lowers the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes including felodipine. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 25, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 14 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.123 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Highlights of the isradipine record
Isradipine (Dynacirc) · label of November 30, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsHypertension Isradipine is indicated in the management of hypertension. It may be used alone or concurrently with thiazide-type diuretics.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 20, 1990
- Generic labelers
- 3 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.70 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Felodipine label of August 11, 2026, Isradipine label of November 30, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do felodipine and isradipine differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers.
Generics: felodipine since 2004; isradipine since 2006 (Drugs@FDA).
| Felodipine | Isradipine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Mechanism of Action Isradipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker. It binds to calcium channels with high affinity and specificity and inhibits calcium flux into cardiac and smooth muscle. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The elimination of isradipine is biphasic with an early half-life of 1 1/2; to 2 hours, and a terminal half-life of about 8 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | July 25, 1991 | December 20, 1990 |
| First generic approved | November 2, 2004 | January 5, 2006 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 14 labelers | 3 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.123 per tablet (Felodipine ER 5 mg tablet) | $1.70 per capsule (Isradipine 5 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -27% | -24% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 11,323 | 554 |
| 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 felodipine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions