Two medicines, side by side
Simvastatin vs verapamil
Simvastatin is labeled for heart attack and coronary artery disease, high cholesterol and high triglycerides; verapamil for high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and angina. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of simvastatin since 1991 and of verapamil since 1981. Pharmacies paid $0.0321 per simvastatin 20 mg tablet and $0.191 per verapamil ER 180 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, simvastatin is a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor and verapamil a calcium channel blocker.
Check it at the source: the simvastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 28, 2025); the verapamil FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 6, 2026).
Highlights of the simvastatin record
Simvastatin (Zocor) · label of March 28, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsZOCOR ® is indicated: To reduce the risk of total mortality by reducing risk of coronary heart disease death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke, and the need for coronary and non-coronary revascularization procedures in adults with established coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and/or diabetes, who are at high risk of coronary heart disease events. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 23, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 27 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0321 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 26
Highlights of the verapamil record
Verapamil (Isoptin) · label of April 6, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsVerapamil hydrochloride extended-release tablets are 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. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes including this drug. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 12, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.191 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Simvastatin label of March 28, 2025, Verapamil label of April 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do simvastatin and verapamil differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, simvastatin is a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor and verapamil a calcium channel blocker.
How each works, in its label's words: Simvastatin, “Simvastatin is a prodrug and is hydrolyzed to its active β-hydroxyacid form, simvastatin acid, after administration.”; Verapamil, “Mechanism of action Essential hypertension: Verapamil exerts antihypertensive effects by decreasing systemic vascular resistance, usually without orthostatic decreases in blood pressure or reflex …”
Generics: simvastatin since 2006; verapamil since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Simvastatin | Verapamil | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Heart attack and coronary artery disease, High cholesterol, High triglycerides | High blood pressure, Atrial fibrillation, Angina |
| Pharmacologic class | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor | Calcium Channel Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Simvastatin is a prodrug and is hydrolyzed to its active β-hydroxyacid form, simvastatin acid, after administration. | Mechanism of action Essential hypertension: Verapamil exerts antihypertensive effects by decreasing systemic vascular resistance, usually without orthostatic decreases in blood pressure or reflex tachycardia; … |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The mean elimination half-life in single-dose studies ranged from 2.8 to 7.4 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 23, 1991 | August 12, 1981 |
| First generic approved | June 23, 2006 | November 12, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 27 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0321 per tablet (Simvastatin 20 mg tablet) | $0.191 per tablet (Verapamil ER 180 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +5% | +7% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 26 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 248,728 | 4,242 |
| 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Simvastatin label, drug interactionsAmiodarone, Dronedarone, Ranolazine, or Calcium Channel Blockers Clinical Impact: The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased by concomitant use of amiodarone, dronedarone, ranolazine, or calcium channel blockers with ZOCOR. Intervention: For patients taking verapamil, diltiazem, or dronedarone, do not exceed ZOCOR 10 mg daily. For patients taking amiodarone, amlodipine, or ranolazine, do not exceed ZOCOR 20 mg daily [see ].
Simvastatin label, warnings and precautionsZOCOR dosage modifications are recommended for patients taking lomitapide, verapamil, diltiazem, dronedarone, amiodarone, amlodipine or ranolazine [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ].
Verapamil label, drug interactionsCo-administration of multiple doses of 10 mg of verapamil with 80 mg simvastatin resulted in exposure to simvastatin 2.5-fold that following simvastatin alone.
Verapamil label, drug interactionsDRUG INTERACTIONS CYP3A4 inhibitors increase verapamil levels ( 7.1 ) CYP3A4 inducers decrease verapamil levels ( 7.1 ) If simvastatin is co-administered with verapamil, do not exceed doses greater than 10 mg daily of simvastatin ( 7.2 ) If lovastatin is co-administered with verapamil, do not exceed doses greater than 40 mg daily of lovastatin ( 7.2 ) Grapefruit juice may significantly increase verapamil levels …
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to simvastatin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions