Two medicines, side by side
Indapamide vs spironolactone
Indapamide and spironolactone are both labeled for high blood pressure, heart failure and edema (fluid retention). Drugs@FDA records approvals of indapamide since 1983 and of spironolactone since 1960. Pharmacies paid $0.109 per indapamide 1.25 mg tablet and $0.0426 per spironolactone 25 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, indapamide is a thiazide-like diuretic and spironolactone an aldosterone antagonist.
Check it at the source: the indapamide FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 1, 2022); the spironolactone FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 28, 2025).
Highlights of the indapamide record
Indapamide (Lozol) · label of October 1, 2022
Used for
From the label: indicationsIndapamide tablets are indicated for the treatment of hypertension, alone or in combination with other antihypertensive drugs. Indapamide tablets are also indicated for the treatment of salt and fluid retention associated with congestive heart failure. Usage in Pregnancy: The routine use of diuretics in an otherwise healthy woman is inappropriate and exposes mother and fetus to unnecessary hazard (see PRECAUTIONS ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 6, 1983
- Generic labelers
- 8 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.109 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the spironolactone record
Spironolactone (Aldactone) · label of November 28, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsALDACTONE is an aldosterone antagonist indicated for: • The treatment of NYHA Class III–IV heart failure and reduced ejection fraction to increase survival, manage edema, and to reduce the need for hospitalization for heart failure ( 1.1 ). • Use as an add-on therapy for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 21, 1960
- Generic labelers
- 38 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0426 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 6
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Indapamide label of October 1, 2022, Spironolactone label of November 28, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do indapamide and spironolactone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, indapamide is a thiazide-like diuretic and spironolactone an aldosterone antagonist.
Half-life, in each label's words: Indapamide, “The half-life of indapamide in whole blood is approximately 14 hours.”; Spironolactone, “The mean half-life values of its metabolites including canrenone, 7-α-(thiomethyl) spirolactone (TMS), and …”
Generics: indapamide since 1995; spironolactone since 1980 (Drugs@FDA).
| Indapamide | Spironolactone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure, Edema (fluid retention) | Heart failure, Edema (fluid retention), High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | Thiazide-like Diuretic | Aldosterone Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Spironolactone and its active metabolites are specific pharmacologic antagonists of aldosterone, acting primarily through competitive binding of receptors at the aldosterone-dependent sodium-potassium exchange site in the distal convoluted … |
| Half-life (label) | The half-life of indapamide in whole blood is approximately 14 hours. | The mean half-life values of its metabolites including canrenone, 7-α-(thiomethyl) spirolactone (TMS), and 6-β-hydroxy-7-α-(thiomethyl) spirolactone (HTMS) are 16.5, 13.8, and 15 hours, respectively. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | July 6, 1983 | January 21, 1960 |
| First generic approved | July 27, 1995 | May 7, 1980 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 8 labelers | 38 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.109 per tablet (Indapamide 1.25 mg tablet) | $0.0426 per tablet (Spironolactone 25 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +9% | -14% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 6 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 17,817 | 139,757 |
| 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 indapamide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions