Two medicines, side by side
Telmisartan vs valsartan
Telmisartan and valsartan are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of telmisartan since 1998 and of valsartan since 1996. Pharmacies paid $0.106 per telmisartan 20 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.
Check it at the source: the telmisartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 29, 2026); the valsartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 5, 2026).
Highlights of the telmisartan record
Telmisartan (Micardis) · label of May 29, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue telmisartan as soon as possible [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]. WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warnings.
Used for
From the label: indicationsTelmisartanis an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: Treatment of hypertension to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions(1.1) 1.1 Hypertension Telmisartan is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 10, 1998
- Generic labelers
- 28 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.106 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
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 (Telmisartan label of May 29, 2026, Valsartan label of August 5, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do telmisartan and valsartan differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class angiotensin 2 receptor blockers.
Half-life, in each label's words: Telmisartan, “Telmisartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 24 hours.”; Valsartan, “Valsartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics following intravenous administration, with an average elimination …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: telmisartan since 2014; valsartan since 2014 (Drugs@FDA).
| Telmisartan | Valsartan | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart attack and coronary artery disease | High blood pressure, Heart failure |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II). | Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II). |
| Half-life (label) | Telmisartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 24 hours. | 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) | November 10, 1998 | December 23, 1996 |
| First generic approved | January 8, 2014 | June 26, 2014 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 28 labelers | 34 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.106 per tablet (Telmisartan 20 mg tablet) | $0.0963 per tablet (Valsartan 40 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | -21% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 58 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 17,745 | 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 telmisartan
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions