Two medicines, side by side
Labetalol vs nifedipine
Labetalol and nifedipine are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of labetalol since 1984 and of nifedipine since 1981. Pharmacies paid $0.215 per labetalol HCl 300 mg tablet and $0.130 per nifedipine ER 30 mg tablet (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 nifedipine a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker.
Check it at the source: the labetalol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 2, 2026); the nifedipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 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 nifedipine record
Nifedipine (Procardia) · label of December 24, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsNifedipine extended-release tablets are indicated for the treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 31, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 32 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.130 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Labetalol label of March 2, 2026, Nifedipine label of December 24, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do labetalol and nifedipine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, labetalol is a beta-adrenergic blocker and nifedipine 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.”; Nifedipine, “The elimination half-life of nifedipine administered as nifedipine extended-release tablets are approximately 7 hours …”
Generics: labetalol since 1998; nifedipine since 1989 (Drugs@FDA).
| Labetalol | Nifedipine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure, Angina |
| Pharmacologic class | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The plasma half-life of labetalol following oral administration is about 6 to 8 hours. | The elimination half-life of nifedipine administered as nifedipine extended-release tablets are approximately 7 hours in contrast to the known 2 hour elimination half-life of nifedipine administered as an immediate … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 1, 1984 | December 31, 1981 |
| First generic approved | August 3, 1998 | April 28, 1989 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 32 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.215 per tablet (Labetalol HCl 300 mg tablet) | $0.130 per tablet (Nifedipine ER 30 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +3% | +19% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 6 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 13,250 | 41,059 |
| 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