Two medicines, side by side
Labetalol vs nicardipine
Labetalol and nicardipine are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of labetalol since 1984 and of nicardipine since 1988. Pharmacies paid $0.215 per labetalol HCl 300 mg tablet and $1.12 per nicardipine 20 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, labetalol is a beta-adrenergic blocker and nicardipine a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker.
Check it at the source: the labetalol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 2, 2026); the nicardipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 24, 2024).
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
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 (Labetalol label of March 2, 2026, Nicardipine label of August 24, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do labetalol and nicardipine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, labetalol is a beta-adrenergic blocker and nicardipine a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker.
Half-life, in each label's words: Labetalol, “The plasma half-life of labetalol following oral administration is about 6 to 8 hours.”; Nicardipine, “Following infusion, nicardipine plasma concentrations decline triexponentially, with a rapid early distribution phase …”
Generics: labetalol since 1998; nicardipine since 1996 (Drugs@FDA).
| Labetalol | Nicardipine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure, Angina |
| Pharmacologic class | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Nicardipine inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into cardiac muscle and smooth muscle without changing serum calcium concentrations. |
| Half-life (label) | The plasma half-life of labetalol following oral administration is about 6 to 8 hours. | 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) | August 1, 1984 | December 21, 1988 |
| First generic approved | August 3, 1998 | July 18, 1996 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 25 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.215 per tablet (Labetalol HCl 300 mg tablet) | $1.12 per capsule (Nicardipine 20 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | +3% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 6 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 13,250 | 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 labetalol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions