Two medicines, side by side
Verapamil vs atenolol
Verapamil and atenolol are both labeled for high blood pressure and angina. Drugs@FDA records approvals of verapamil since 1981 and of atenolol since 1981. Pharmacies paid $0.191 per verapamil ER 180 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, verapamil is a calcium channel blocker and atenolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the verapamil FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 6, 2026); the atenolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 18, 2025).
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
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 (Verapamil label of April 6, 2026, Atenolol label of September 18, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do verapamil and atenolol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, verapamil is a calcium channel blocker and atenolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Half-life, in each label's words: Verapamil, “The mean elimination half-life in single-dose studies ranged from 2.8 to 7.4 hours.”; Atenolol, “The elimination half-life of oral TENORMIN is approximately 6 to 7 hours, and there is no alteration of the kinetic …”
Generics: verapamil since 1985; atenolol since 1988 (Drugs@FDA).
| Verapamil | Atenolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Atrial fibrillation, Angina | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Calcium Channel Blocker | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Mechanism of action Essential hypertension: Verapamil exerts antihypertensive effects by decreasing systemic vascular resistance, usually without orthostatic decreases in blood pressure or reflex tachycardia; … | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The mean elimination half-life in single-dose studies ranged from 2.8 to 7.4 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) | August 12, 1981 | August 19, 1981 |
| First generic approved | November 12, 1985 | July 15, 1988 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 35 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.191 per tablet (Verapamil ER 180 mg tablet) | $0.0217 per tablet (Atenolol 25 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +7% | -3% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 7 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 4,242 | 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Verapamil label, drug interactionsA variable effect has been seen when verapamil and atenolol were given together.
Verapamil label, drug interactionsA similar effect has not been observed when verapamil and atenolol are given together.
Atenolol label, warningsBecause coronary artery disease is common and may be unrecognized, it may be prudent not to discontinue TENORMIN therapy abruptly even in patients treated only for hypertension. (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION . ) Concomitant Use of Calcium Channel Blockers Bradycardia and heart block can occur and the left ventricular end diastolic pressure can rise when beta-blockers are administered with verapamil or diltiazem.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to verapamil
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions