Two medicines, side by side
Labetalol vs telmisartan
Labetalol and telmisartan are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of labetalol since 1984 and of telmisartan since 1998. Pharmacies paid $0.215 per labetalol HCl 300 mg tablet and $0.106 per telmisartan 20 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 telmisartan an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker.
Check it at the source: the labetalol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 2, 2026); the telmisartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 29, 2026).
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 telmisartan record
Telmisartan (Micardis) · label of May 29, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue telmisartan as soon as possible [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]. WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warnings.
Used for
From the label: indicationsTelmisartanis an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: Treatment of hypertension to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions(1.1) 1.1 Hypertension Telmisartan is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 10, 1998
- Generic labelers
- 28 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.106 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Labetalol label of March 2, 2026, Telmisartan label of May 29, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do labetalol and telmisartan differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, labetalol is a beta-adrenergic blocker and telmisartan an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker.
Half-life, in each label's words: Labetalol, “The plasma half-life of labetalol following oral administration is about 6 to 8 hours.”; Telmisartan, “Telmisartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 24 hours.”
Only the telmisartan label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: labetalol since 1998; telmisartan since 2014 (Drugs@FDA).
| Labetalol | Telmisartan | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II). |
| Half-life (label) | The plasma half-life of labetalol following oral administration is about 6 to 8 hours. | Telmisartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 24 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 1, 1984 | November 10, 1998 |
| First generic approved | August 3, 1998 | January 8, 2014 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 28 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.215 per tablet (Labetalol HCl 300 mg tablet) | $0.106 per tablet (Telmisartan 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +3% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 6 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 13,250 | 17,745 |
| 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