Two medicines, side by side
Ranolazine vs isosorbide mononitrate
Ranolazine and isosorbide mononitrate are both labeled for angina. Drugs@FDA records approvals of ranolazine since 2006 and of isosorbide mononitrate since 1991. Pharmacies paid $0.165 per ranolazine ER 500 mg tablet and $0.0688 per isosorbide mononit ER 30 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, ranolazine is an anti-anginal and isosorbide mononitrate a nitrate vasodilator.
Check it at the source: the ranolazine FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 23, 2026); the isosorbide mononitrate FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 11, 2026).
Highlights of the ranolazine record
Ranolazine (Ranexa) · label of January 23, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsRanolazine extended-release tablets are indicated for the treatment of chronic angina. Ranolazine extended-release tablets may be used with beta-blockers, nitrates, calcium channel blockers, anti-platelet therapy, lipid-lowering therapy, ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers. Ranolazine extended-release tablets are an antianginal indicated for the treatment of chronic angina.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 27, 2006
- Generic labelers
- 28 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.165 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Highlights of the isosorbide mononitrate record
Isosorbide mononitrate (Ismo) · label of May 11, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsIsosorbide mononitrate extended-release tablets, USP are indicated for the prevention of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease. The onset of action of oral isosorbide mononitrate is not sufficiently rapid for this product to be useful in aborting an acute anginal episode.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 30, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 21 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0688 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Ranolazine label of January 23, 2026, Isosorbide mononitrate label of May 11, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ranolazine and isosorbide mononitrate differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, ranolazine is an anti-anginal and isosorbide mononitrate a nitrate vasodilator.
Half-life, in each label's words: Ranolazine, “The apparent terminal half-life of ranolazine is 7 hours.”; Isosorbide mononitrate, “The mean plasma elimination half-life of ISMN is approximately 5 hours.”
Generics: ranolazine since 2013; isosorbide mononitrate since 1998 (Drugs@FDA).
| Ranolazine | Isosorbide mononitrate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Angina | Angina |
| Pharmacologic class | Anti-anginal | Nitrate Vasodilator |
| How it works (label) | The mechanism of action of ranolazine’s antianginal effects has not been determined. Ranolazine has anti-ischemic and antianginal effects that do not depend upon reductions in heart rate or blood pressure. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The apparent terminal half-life of ranolazine is 7 hours. | The mean plasma elimination half-life of ISMN is approximately 5 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | January 27, 2006 | December 30, 1991 |
| First generic approved | July 29, 2013 | September 22, 1998 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 28 labelers | 21 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.165 per tablet (Ranolazine ER 500 mg tablet) | $0.0688 per tablet (Isosorbide mononit ER 30 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 10,376 | 20,616 |
| 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 ranolazine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions