Two medicines, side by side
Pindolol vs metoprolol
Pindolol and metoprolol are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of pindolol since 1982 and of metoprolol since 1978. Pharmacies paid $0.854 per pindolol 10 mg tablet and $0.085 per metoprolol succ ER 100 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Metoprolol's other strengths are brand-only: $1.20 per mL (Lopressor 10 mg/mL oral solution).
Check it at the source: the pindolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 17, 2026); the metoprolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 3, 2026).
Highlights of the pindolol record
Pindolol (Visken) · label of March 17, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsPindolol tablets are indicated in the management of hypertension. It may be used alone or concomitantly with other antihypertensive agents, particularly with a thiazide-type diuretic.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 3, 1982
- Generic labelers
- 8 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.854 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the metoprolol record
Metoprolol (Lopressor) · label of March 3, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsTOPROL-XL, metoprolol succinate, is a beta-adrenergic blocker indicated for the treatment of: Hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. ( 1.1 ) Angina Pectoris. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 7, 1978
- Generic labelers
- 74 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.085 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 39
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Pindolol label of March 17, 2026, Metoprolol label of March 3, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do pindolol and metoprolol differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class beta-adrenergic blockers.
Half-life, in each label's words: Pindolol, “The polar metabolites are excreted with a half-life of approximately 8 hours and thus multiple dosing therapy (q.8H) …”; Metoprolol, “Elimination Elimination is mainly by biotransformation in the liver, and the plasma half-life ranges from approximately …”
Generics: pindolol since 1992; metoprolol since 1993 (Drugs@FDA).
| Pindolol | Metoprolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart failure, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Metoprolol is a beta 1 -selective (cardioselective) adrenergic receptor blocking agent. |
| Half-life (label) | The polar metabolites are excreted with a half-life of approximately 8 hours and thus multiple dosing therapy (q.8H) results in a less than 50% accumulation in plasma. | Elimination Elimination is mainly by biotransformation in the liver, and the plasma half-life ranges from approximately 3 to 7 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 3, 1982 | August 7, 1978 |
| First generic approved | September 3, 1992 | December 21, 1993 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 8 labelers | 74 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.854 per tablet (Pindolol 10 mg tablet) | $0.085 per tablet (Metoprolol succ ER 100 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +5% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 39 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 796 | 353,609 |
| 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 pindolol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions