Two medicines, side by side
Hydrochlorothiazide vs metoprolol
Hydrochlorothiazide and metoprolol are both labeled for high blood pressure and heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of hydrochlorothiazide since 1959 and of metoprolol since 1978. Pharmacies paid $0.0115 per hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg tablet and $0.085 per metoprolol succ ER 100 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Hydrochlorothiazide's other strengths are brand-only: $4.46 per mL (Inzirqo 10 mg/mL oral suspension). Metoprolol's other strengths are brand-only: $1.20 per mL (Lopressor 10 mg/mL oral solution). In FDA's classes, hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic and metoprolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the hydrochlorothiazide FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 12, 2026); the metoprolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 3, 2026).
Highlights of the hydrochlorothiazide record
Hydrochlorothiazide (Inzirqo) · label of June 12, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsHydrochlorothiazide tablets USP are indicated as adjunctive therapy in edema associated with congestive heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, and corticosteroid and estrogen therapy. Hydrochlorothiazide tablets USP have also been found useful in edema due to various forms of renal dysfunction such as nephrotic syndrome, acute glomerulonephritis, and chronic renal failure. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 12, 1959
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0115 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 7
Highlights of the metoprolol record
Metoprolol (Lopressor) · label of March 3, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsTOPROL-XL, metoprolol succinate, is a beta-adrenergic blocker indicated for the treatment of: Hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. ( 1.1 ) Angina Pectoris. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 7, 1978
- Generic labelers
- 74 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.085 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 39
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Hydrochlorothiazide label of June 12, 2026, Metoprolol label of March 3, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do hydrochlorothiazide and metoprolol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic and metoprolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Half-life, in each label's words: Hydrochlorothiazide, “When plasma levels have been followed for at least 24 hours, the plasma half-life has been observed to vary between 5.6 …”; Metoprolol, “Elimination Elimination is mainly by biotransformation in the liver, and the plasma half-life ranges from approximately …”
Generics: hydrochlorothiazide since 1973; metoprolol since 1993 (Drugs@FDA).
| Hydrochlorothiazide | Metoprolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Heart failure, High blood pressure, Edema (fluid retention) | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart failure, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Thiazide Diuretic | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Metoprolol is a beta 1 -selective (cardioselective) adrenergic receptor blocking agent. |
| Half-life (label) | When plasma levels have been followed for at least 24 hours, the plasma half-life has been observed to vary between 5.6 and 14.8 hours. | Elimination Elimination is mainly by biotransformation in the liver, and the plasma half-life ranges from approximately 3 to 7 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 12, 1959 | August 7, 1978 |
| First generic approved | January 12, 1973 | December 21, 1993 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 74 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0115 per tablet (Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg tablet) | $0.085 per tablet (Metoprolol succ ER 100 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -7% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 7 | 39 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 144,413 | 353,609 |
| 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 hydrochlorothiazide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions