Two medicines, side by side
Valsartan vs hydrochlorothiazide
Valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide are both labeled for high blood pressure and heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of valsartan since 1996 and of hydrochlorothiazide since 1959. Pharmacies paid $0.0963 per valsartan 40 mg tablet and $0.0115 per hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Hydrochlorothiazide's other strengths are brand-only: $4.46 per mL (Inzirqo 10 mg/mL oral suspension). In FDA's classes, valsartan is an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker and hydrochlorothiazide a thiazide diuretic.
Check it at the source: the valsartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 5, 2026); the hydrochlorothiazide FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 12, 2026).
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 hydrochlorothiazide record
Hydrochlorothiazide (Inzirqo) · label of June 12, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsHydrochlorothiazide tablets USP are indicated as adjunctive therapy in edema associated with congestive heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, and corticosteroid and estrogen therapy. Hydrochlorothiazide tablets USP have also been found useful in edema due to various forms of renal dysfunction such as nephrotic syndrome, acute glomerulonephritis, and chronic renal failure. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 12, 1959
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0115 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Valsartan label of August 5, 2026, Hydrochlorothiazide label of June 12, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, valsartan is an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker and hydrochlorothiazide a thiazide diuretic.
Half-life, in each label's words: Valsartan, “Valsartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics following intravenous administration, with an average elimination …”; Hydrochlorothiazide, “When plasma levels have been followed for at least 24 hours, the plasma half-life has been observed to vary between 5.6 …”
Only the valsartan label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: valsartan since 2014; hydrochlorothiazide since 1973 (Drugs@FDA).
| Valsartan | Hydrochlorothiazide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure | Heart failure, High blood pressure, Edema (fluid retention) |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker | Thiazide Diuretic |
| 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. | When plasma levels have been followed for at least 24 hours, the plasma half-life has been observed to vary between 5.6 and 14.8 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 23, 1996 | February 12, 1959 |
| First generic approved | June 26, 2014 | January 12, 1973 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 34 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0963 per tablet (Valsartan 40 mg tablet) | $0.0115 per tablet (Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -21% | -7% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 58 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 104,490 | 144,413 |
| 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