Two medicines, side by side
Nifedipine vs valsartan
Nifedipine and valsartan are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of nifedipine since 1981 and of valsartan since 1996. Pharmacies paid $0.130 per nifedipine ER 30 mg tablet and $0.0963 per valsartan 40 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, nifedipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker and valsartan an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker.
Check it at the source: the nifedipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 24, 2024); the valsartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 5, 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 valsartan record
Valsartan (Diovan) · label of August 5, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY
When pregnancy is detected, discontinue valsartan tablets as soon as possible. ( 5.1 )
Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus. ( 5.1 ) WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue valsartan tablets as soon as possible. ( 5.1 ).
Used for
From the label: indicationsValsartan tablets are an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: • Hypertension, to lower blood pressure in adults and children 6 years and older. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 23, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 34 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0963 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 58
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Nifedipine label of December 24, 2024, Valsartan label of August 5, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do nifedipine and valsartan differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, nifedipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker and valsartan an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker.
Half-life, in each label's words: Nifedipine, “The elimination half-life of nifedipine administered as nifedipine extended-release tablets are approximately 7 hours …”; Valsartan, “Valsartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics following intravenous administration, with an average elimination …”
Only the valsartan label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: nifedipine since 1989; valsartan since 2014 (Drugs@FDA).
| Nifedipine | Valsartan | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Angina | High blood pressure, Heart failure |
| Pharmacologic class | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel 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 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 … | Valsartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics following intravenous administration, with an average elimination half-life of about 6 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 31, 1981 | December 23, 1996 |
| First generic approved | April 28, 1989 | June 26, 2014 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 32 labelers | 34 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.130 per tablet (Nifedipine ER 30 mg tablet) | $0.0963 per tablet (Valsartan 40 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +19% | -21% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 7 | 58 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 41,059 | 104,490 |
| 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