Prescription medicine
Hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan Brand names: Micardis; first approved as Micardis Hct
Hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan (Micardis) is a prescription medicine with an FDA approval on record since 2000. FDA's NDC Directory lists it from 8 generic labelers, and pharmacies paid $0.357 per telmisartan-hydrochlorothiazide 40-12.5 mg tablet in the October 7, 2026 NADAC survey.
- Generic listed
- Boxed warning
Check it at the source: the hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 31, 2024, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.); the NDA 21162 record on Drugs@FDA; every hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan label on DailyMed.
Highlights of the record
FDA label of December 31, 2024; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026; NADAC October 7, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY.
When pregnancy is detected, discontinue MICARDIS HCT as soon as possible [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1) ]. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1) ]. WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue MICARDIS HCT as soon as possible. ( 5.1 , 8.1 ) Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus.
Used for
From the label: indications and usageMICARDIS HCT (telmisartan and hydrochlorothiazide) is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure.
Forms and strengths
- 12.5 mg / 40 mg
- 12.5 mg / 80 mg
- 25 mg / 80 mg
- 40 mg / 12.5 mg
- 80 mg / 12.5 mg
- 80 mg / 25 mg
Tablet.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 17, 2000 Micardis Hct, Boehringer Ingelheim; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
- Generic approvals
- 10 first February 25, 2014; 5 with a marketed status in Drugs@FDA
- Labelers listed (NDC)
- 9 of which 8 under generic applications, 1 under brand applications, repackagers included
Supply and safety
- Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
- $0.357 per tablet Telmisartan-hydrochlorothiazide 40-12.5 mg tablet
- Shortage (FDA)
- No current entry
- Recalls by its makers (FDA)
- 3 since 2021 0 Class I among all firms' recalls; latest June 29, 2022
- FAERS reports
- 2,354 through July 30, 2026
What is hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan used for?
From the label: indications and usageMICARDIS HCT (telmisartan and hydrochlorothiazide) is 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 the classes to which this drug principally belongs. There are no controlled trials demonstrating risk reduction with MICARDIS HCT. […]
Conditions named in the indications of hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan's FDA labels, with every medicine labeled for each:
FDA pharmacologic class: Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker and Thiazide Diuretic.
Source: FDA drug label (Micardis HCT), Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective December 31, 2024 (SPL set b078dae2-664d-4144-847a-3b9d9b557402), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the patient leaflet for hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan say first?
The FDA-approved Medication Guide or Patient Information that comes with the medicine, in its own words.
From the patient leaflet: What is the most important information I should know about MICARDIS HCT tablets?MICARDIS HCT can cause harm or death to an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about other ways to lower your blood pressure if you plan to become pregnant. If you get pregnant while taking MICARDIS HCT, tell your doctor right away.
From the patient leaflet: How should I store MICARDIS HCT tablets?Store MICARDIS HCT tablets at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Do not remove MICARDIS HCT tablets from blisters until right before you take them. Keep MICARDIS HCT tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children.
Source: FDA drug label (Micardis HCT), Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective December 31, 2024 (SPL set b078dae2-664d-4144-847a-3b9d9b557402), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
Is there a generic for hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan (Micardis)?
The FDA approved the first generic hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan on February 25, 2014. 10 generic applications are approved; 5 of them carry a current (not discontinued) marketing status in Drugs@FDA; that status is not evidence that the generic is on sale. Drugs@FDA also holds 1 tentative approval: the FDA found the generic approvable, but patents or exclusivity keep it from final approval for now.
FDA's NDC Directory lists hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan from 8 labelers under a generic (ANDA) application and from 1 brand labeler. A listing means the company has registered the product for sale; it does not show that every pharmacy stocks it.
- 2000 earliest approval on file
- 2014 first generic approved
- red ticks recalls
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan (Micardis)?
In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $0.357 per Telmisartan-hydrochlorothiazide 40-12.5 mg tablet, down 5% from $0.376 on October 8, 2025. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.
- Telmisartan-hydrochlorothiazide 80-12.5 mg tablet (generic)
- Micardis hct 80-12.5 mg tablet (brand)
| Strength and form | Brand or generic | Pharmacy cost | 30 tablets, or one pen or vial | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telmisartan-hydrochlorothiazide 40-12.5 mg tablet | Generic | $0.357 per tablet | $10.70 | -5% |
| Telmisartan-hydrochlorothiazide 80-12.5 mg tablet | Generic | $0.314 per tablet | $9.43 | -11% |
| Telmisartan-hydrochlorothiazide 80-25 mg tablet | Generic | $0.338 per tablet | $10.15 | -16% |
| Micardis hct 40-12.5 mg tablet | Brand | $4.48 per tablet | $134.51 | -0.4% |
| Micardis hct 80-12.5 mg tablet | Brand | $4.47 per tablet | $134.16 | -0.3% |
| Micardis hct 80-25 mg tablet | Brand | $4.48 per tablet | $134.30 | -0.4% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
Has hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement Report lists 3 recalls naming hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan since 2021: 0 Class I (the most serious), 2 Class II, 1 Class III; 0 still ongoing. A recall names products and lots, not every product of the medicine.
| Started | Class | Company | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 29, 2022 | Class II | Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA | Defective Container: Recall of these batches has been initiated due to complaints of difficult to open blister and tablet breaks while opening the blister . |
| December 1, 2021 | Class III | Torrent Pharma Inc. | Superpotent; Hydrochlorothiazide |
Source: FDA Enforcement Report (drug recalls) via openFDA, through October 8, 2026
What does the hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan label say about other medicines?
The hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan label names 6 other medicines in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.
| Medicine named | Section | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Aliskiren | contraindications | For co-administration with aliskiren in patients with diabetes [see Drug Interactions (7.4) ]. |
| Cholestyramine | drug interactions | Dosage adjustment may be required ( 7.6 ) Cholestyramine and colestipol: Reduced absorption of thiazides |
| Colestipol | drug interactions | Dosage adjustment may be required ( 7.6 ) Cholestyramine and colestipol: Reduced absorption of thiazides |
| Digoxin | drug interactions | When telmisartan was co-administered with digoxin, median increases in digoxin peak plasma concentration (49%) and in trough concentration (20%) were observed. |
| Lithium | drug interactions | DRUG INTERACTIONS Lithium: Risk of lithium toxicity ( 7.2 ) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): |
| Ramipril | drug interactions | The ONTARGET trial enrolled 25,620 patients ≥55 years old with atherosclerotic disease or diabetes with end-organ damage, randomizing them to telmisartan (ARB) only, ramipril (ACE inhibitor) only, or the combination, and followed them for a median of 56 months. |
Check hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan against other medicines
Source: FDA drug label (Micardis HCT), Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective December 31, 2024 (SPL set b078dae2-664d-4144-847a-3b9d9b557402), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What do FAERS reports show for hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan?
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 2,354 reports that list hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 145 are coded as a death and 760 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.
Reports received each year
The most reported reactions
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026
What else is labeled for the same conditions as hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan?
54 other medicines are given the same way (oral) and in the same FDA class as hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan or labeled mainly for the same use (high blood pressure), the same class first. High blood pressure lists all 88 medicines labeled for it, by any route. The first 8 are below. They are listed as records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine | Shared indication | Generic labelers (oral) | Pharmacy cost | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Losartan | High blood pressure | 44 labelers | $0.0327 per tablet 50 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Valsartan | High blood pressure | 34 labelers | $0.0963 per tablet 40 mg tablet | A presentation being discontinued |
| Olmesartan | High blood pressure | 31 labelers | $0.0805 per tablet 20 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Irbesartan | High blood pressure | 23 labelers | $0.107 per tablet 150 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Amlodipine and olmesartan | High blood pressure | 14 labelers | $0.248 per unit 10-20 mg | No current entry |
| Amlodipine and valsartan | High blood pressure | 9 labelers | $0.330 per unit 10-160 mg | No current entry |
| Candesartan | High blood pressure | 8 labelers | $0.478 per tablet 16 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Azilsartan | High blood pressure | 1 labeler | $5.47 per tablet 40 mg tablet | No current entry |
Every medicine labeled for the same conditions as hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan
Source: FDA drug labels (indications), NDC Directory, NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages (October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan
- 54 medicines for the same use
- Other ARBs
- the pharmacologic class, with prices and generics
- Hydrochlorothiazide and telmisartan side effects
- the label's list beside FAERS reports
- Check an interaction
- what two or more labels say about each other