Two medicines, side by side
Nifedipine vs clonidine
Nifedipine and clonidine are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of nifedipine since 1981 and of clonidine since 1974. Pharmacies paid $0.130 per nifedipine ER 30 mg tablet and $0.0241 per clonidine HCl 0.1 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Clonidine's other strengths are brand-only: $1.53 per mL (Javadin 0.02 mg/mL solution). In FDA's classes, nifedipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker and clonidine a central alpha-2 adrenergic agonist.
Check it at the source: the nifedipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 24, 2024); the clonidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 30, 2026).
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
Highlights of the clonidine record
Clonidine (Catapres) · label of March 30, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsClonidine hydrochloride tablets are indicated in the treatment of hypertension. Clonidine hydrochloride tablets may be employed alone or concomitantly with other antihypertensive agents.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 3, 1974
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0241 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 16
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Nifedipine label of December 24, 2024, Clonidine label of March 30, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do nifedipine and clonidine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, nifedipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker and clonidine a central alpha-2 adrenergic agonist.
Half-life, in each label's words: Nifedipine, “The elimination half-life of nifedipine administered as nifedipine extended-release tablets are approximately 7 hours …”; Clonidine, “Following intravenous administration, clonidine displays biphasic disposition with a distribution half-life of about 20 …”
Generics: nifedipine since 1989; clonidine since 1986 (Drugs@FDA).
| Nifedipine | Clonidine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Angina | High blood pressure, ADHD, Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker | Central alpha-2 Adrenergic Agonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | 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 … | Following intravenous administration, clonidine displays biphasic disposition with a distribution half-life of about 20 minutes and an elimination half-life ranging from 12 to 16 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 31, 1981 | September 3, 1974 |
| First generic approved | April 28, 1989 | July 1, 1986 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 32 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.130 per tablet (Nifedipine ER 30 mg tablet) | $0.0241 per tablet (Clonidine HCl 0.1 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +19% | -3% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 7 | 16 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 41,059 | 57,116 |
| 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 nifedipine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions