Two medicines, side by side
Verapamil vs digoxin
Verapamil and digoxin are both labeled for atrial fibrillation. Drugs@FDA records approvals of verapamil since 1981 and of digoxin since 1954. Pharmacies paid $0.191 per verapamil ER 180 mg tablet and $0.133 per digoxin 125 mcg 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 digoxin a cardiac glycoside.
Check it at the source: the verapamil FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 6, 2026); the digoxin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 5, 2024).
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 digoxin record
Digoxin (Lanoxin) · label of December 5, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsLANOXIN is a cardiac glycoside indicated for: Treatment of mild to moderate heart failure in adults. ( 1.1 ) Increasing myocardial contractility in pediatric patients with heart failure. ( 1.2 ) Control of resting ventricular rate in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation in adults. ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Heart Failure in Adults LANOXIN is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate heart failure in adults. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 16, 1954
- Generic labelers
- 26 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.133 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Verapamil label of April 6, 2026, Digoxin label of December 5, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do verapamil and digoxin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, verapamil is a calcium channel blocker and digoxin a cardiac glycoside.
How each works, in its label's words: Verapamil, “Mechanism of action Essential hypertension: Verapamil exerts antihypertensive effects by decreasing systemic vascular resistance, usually without orthostatic decreases in blood pressure or reflex …”; Digoxin, “This enzyme, the “sodium pump,” is responsible for maintaining the intracellular milieu throughout the body by moving sodium ions out of and potassium ions into cells.”
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.”; Digoxin, “In healthy volunteers with normal renal function, digoxin has a half-life of 1.5-2 days.”
Generics: verapamil since 1985; digoxin since 1975 (Drugs@FDA).
| Verapamil | Digoxin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Atrial fibrillation, Angina | Heart failure, Atrial fibrillation |
| Pharmacologic class | Calcium Channel Blocker | Cardiac Glycoside |
| 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; … | All of digoxin’s actions are mediated through its effects on Na-K ATPase. This enzyme, the “sodium pump,” is responsible for maintaining the intracellular milieu throughout the body by moving sodium ions out of and potassium ions into … |
| Half-life (label) | The mean elimination half-life in single-dose studies ranged from 2.8 to 7.4 hours. | In healthy volunteers with normal renal function, digoxin has a half-life of 1.5-2 days. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 12, 1981 | November 16, 1954 |
| First generic approved | November 12, 1985 | October 24, 1975 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 26 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.191 per tablet (Verapamil ER 180 mg tablet) | $0.133 per tablet (Digoxin 125 mcg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +7% | +20% |
| 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 | 71,335 |
| 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 interactionsClinical use of verapamil in digitalized patients has shown the combination to be well tolerated if digoxin doses are properly adjusted.
Verapamil label, drug interactionsDigitalis Consider reducing digoxin dose when verapamil and digoxin are to be given together.
Digoxin label, drug interactionsVerapamil; NA; 24%; Measure serum digoxin concentrations before initiating concomitant drugs. Reduce digoxin concentrations by decreasing the dose by approximately 15-30% or by modifying the dosing frequency and continue monitoring.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to verapamil
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions