Two medicines, side by side
Torsemide vs metolazone
Torsemide and metolazone are both labeled for high blood pressure and heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of torsemide since 1993 and of metolazone since 1973. Pharmacies paid $0.0636 per torsemide 20 mg tablet and $0.233 per metolazone 2.5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, torsemide is a loop diuretic and metolazone a thiazide-like diuretic.
Check it at the source: the torsemide FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 8, 2024); the metolazone FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 11, 2025).
Highlights of the torsemide record
Torsemide (Demadex) · label of May 8, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsTorsemide is a loop diuretic indicated for: the treatment of edema associated with heart failure, renal disease or hepatic disease. ( 1.1 ) 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. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 23, 1993
- Generic labelers
- 20 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0636 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Highlights of the metolazone record
Metolazone (Zaroxolyn) · label of December 11, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsMetolazone tablets, USP, are indicated for the treatment of salt and water retention including: edema accompanying congestive heart failure; edema accompanying renal diseases, including the nephrotic syndrome and states of diminished renal function. Metolazone tablets, USP, are also indicated for the treatment of hypertension, alone or in combination with other antihypertensive drugs of a different class. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 27, 1973
- Generic labelers
- 19 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.233 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Torsemide label of May 8, 2024, Metolazone label of December 11, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do torsemide and metolazone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, torsemide is a loop diuretic and metolazone a thiazide-like diuretic.
Generics: torsemide since 2002; metolazone since 2003 (Drugs@FDA).
| Torsemide | Metolazone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure | High blood pressure, Edema (fluid retention), Heart failure |
| Pharmacologic class | Loop Diuretic | Thiazide-like Diuretic |
| How it works (label) | Micropuncture studies in animals have shown that torsemide acts from within the lumen of the thick ascending portion of the loop of Henle, where it inhibits the Na + /K + /2Cl – -carrier system. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Elimination In normal subjects the elimination half-life of torsemide is approximately 3.5 hours. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 23, 1993 | November 27, 1973 |
| First generic approved | May 14, 2002 | December 19, 2003 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 20 labelers | 19 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0636 per tablet (Torsemide 20 mg tablet) | $0.233 per tablet (Metolazone 2.5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | +8% |
| 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) | 32,925 | 11,175 |
| 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 torsemide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions