Two medicines, side by side
Nebivolol vs atenolol
Nebivolol and atenolol are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of nebivolol since 2007 and of atenolol since 1981. Pharmacies paid $0.141 per nebivolol 10 mg tablet and $0.0217 per atenolol 25 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the nebivolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 1, 2024); the atenolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 18, 2025).
Highlights of the nebivolol record
Nebivolol (Bystolic) · label of August 1, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsINDICATIONS AND USAGE BYSTOLIC is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent 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. ( 1.1 ) 1.1 Hypertension BYSTOLIC is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )]. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 17, 2007
- Generic labelers
- 23 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.141 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 5
Highlights of the atenolol record
Atenolol (Tenormin) · label of September 18, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsHypertension TENORMIN is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure lowers the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes including atenolol. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 19, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 35 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0217 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Nebivolol label of August 1, 2024, Atenolol label of September 18, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do nebivolol and atenolol differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class beta-adrenergic blockers.
Half-life, in each label's words: Nebivolol, “The active isomer (d-nebivolol) has an effective half-life of about 12 hours in CYP2D6 extensive metabolizers (most …”; Atenolol, “The elimination half-life of oral TENORMIN is approximately 6 to 7 hours, and there is no alteration of the kinetic …”
Generics: nebivolol since 2015; atenolol since 1988 (Drugs@FDA).
| Nebivolol | Atenolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | The mechanism of action of the antihypertensive response of BYSTOLIC has not been definitively established. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The active isomer (d-nebivolol) has an effective half-life of about 12 hours in CYP2D6 extensive metabolizers (most people), and 19 hours in poor metabolizers and exposure to d-nebivolol is substantially increased in … | The elimination half-life of oral TENORMIN is approximately 6 to 7 hours, and there is no alteration of the kinetic profile of the drug by chronic administration. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 17, 2007 | August 19, 1981 |
| First generic approved | April 16, 2015 | July 15, 1988 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 23 labelers | 35 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.141 per tablet (Nebivolol 10 mg tablet) | $0.0217 per tablet (Atenolol 25 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +0.8% | -3% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 33,555 | 132,491 |
| 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 nebivolol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions