Two medicines, side by side
Valsartan vs verapamil
Valsartan and verapamil are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of valsartan since 1996 and of verapamil since 1981. Pharmacies paid $0.0963 per valsartan 40 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, valsartan is an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker and verapamil a calcium channel blocker.
Check it at the source: the valsartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 5, 2026); the verapamil FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 6, 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 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 (Valsartan label of August 5, 2026, Verapamil label of April 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do valsartan and verapamil differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, valsartan is an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker and verapamil a calcium channel blocker.
How each works, in its label's words: Valsartan, “Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II).”; Verapamil, “Mechanism of action Essential hypertension: Verapamil exerts antihypertensive effects by decreasing systemic vascular resistance, usually without orthostatic decreases in blood pressure or reflex …”
Half-life, in each label's words: Valsartan, “Valsartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics following intravenous administration, with an average elimination …”; Verapamil, “The mean elimination half-life in single-dose studies ranged from 2.8 to 7.4 hours.”
Only the valsartan label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: valsartan since 2014; verapamil since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Valsartan | Verapamil | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure | High blood pressure, Atrial fibrillation, Angina |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker | Calcium Channel Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II). | 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) | Valsartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics following intravenous administration, with an average elimination half-life of about 6 hours. | 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, 1996 | August 12, 1981 |
| First generic approved | June 26, 2014 | November 12, 1985 |
| 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) | $0.191 per tablet (Verapamil ER 180 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 | 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)
What next?
- Alternatives to valsartan
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions