Two medicines, side by side
Nadolol vs bisoprolol
Nadolol and bisoprolol are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of nadolol since 1979 and of bisoprolol since 1992. Pharmacies paid $0.147 per nadolol 20 mg tablet and $0.114 per bisoprolol fumarate 5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the nadolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026); the bisoprolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 11, 2026).
Highlights of the nadolol record
Nadolol (Corgard) · label of May 12, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsAngina Pectoris Nadolol tablets are indicated for the long-term management of patients with angina pectoris. Hypertension Nadolol tablets are indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 10, 1979
- Generic labelers
- 16 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.147 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Highlights of the bisoprolol record
Bisoprolol (Zebeta) · label of March 11, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsBisoprolol fumarate tablets are indicated in the management of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 31, 1992
- Generic labelers
- 24 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.114 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Nadolol label of May 12, 2026, Bisoprolol label of March 11, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do nadolol and bisoprolol differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class beta-adrenergic blockers.
Half-life, in each label's words: Nadolol, “The half-life of therapeutic doses of nadolol is about 20 to 24 hours, permitting once-daily dosage.”; Bisoprolol, “The plasma elimination half-life is 9 to 12 hours and is slightly longer in elderly patients, in part because of …”
Generics: nadolol since 1993; bisoprolol since 2000 (Drugs@FDA).
| Nadolol | Bisoprolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Angina, High blood pressure | High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The half-life of therapeutic doses of nadolol is about 20 to 24 hours, permitting once-daily dosage. | The plasma elimination half-life is 9 to 12 hours and is slightly longer in elderly patients, in part because of decreased renal function in that population. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 10, 1979 | July 31, 1992 |
| First generic approved | October 31, 1993 | November 16, 2000 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 16 labelers | 24 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.147 per tablet (Nadolol 20 mg tablet) | $0.114 per tablet (Bisoprolol fumarate 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +23% | -39% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,532 | 135,060 |
| 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 nadolol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions