Two medicines, side by side
Valsartan vs atenolol
Valsartan and atenolol are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of valsartan since 1996 and of atenolol since 1981. Pharmacies paid $0.0963 per valsartan 40 mg tablet and $0.0217 per atenolol 25 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, valsartan is an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker and atenolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the valsartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 5, 2026); the atenolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 18, 2025).
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
Highlights of the atenolol record
Atenolol (Tenormin) · label of September 18, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsHypertension TENORMIN is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure lowers the risk of fatal and non-fatal 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 atenolol. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 19, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 35 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0217 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Valsartan label of August 5, 2026, Atenolol label of September 18, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do valsartan and atenolol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, valsartan is an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker and atenolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Half-life, in each label's words: Valsartan, “Valsartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics following intravenous administration, with an average elimination …”; Atenolol, “The elimination half-life of oral TENORMIN is approximately 6 to 7 hours, and there is no alteration of the kinetic …”
Only the valsartan label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: valsartan since 2014; atenolol since 1988 (Drugs@FDA).
| Valsartan | Atenolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II). | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Valsartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics following intravenous administration, with an average elimination half-life of about 6 hours. | The elimination half-life of oral TENORMIN is approximately 6 to 7 hours, and there is no alteration of the kinetic profile of the drug by chronic administration. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 23, 1996 | August 19, 1981 |
| First generic approved | June 26, 2014 | July 15, 1988 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 34 labelers | 35 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0963 per tablet (Valsartan 40 mg tablet) | $0.0217 per tablet (Atenolol 25 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -21% | -3% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 58 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 104,490 | 132,491 |
| 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 valsartan
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions