nadolol
Brand names: Corgard
Nadolol is a medicine that helps lower blood pressure and manage chest pain (angina). It works by blocking certain natural body chemicals that affect the heart and blood vessels.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.15/unit
Generic Available
Yes (7 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Nadolol is used to treat angina, which is chest pain.
Common side effects
Slow heart rate (less than 60 beats per minute)
Key warnings
If you have heart disease and stop taking nadolol suddenly, it can worsen chest pain or cause a heart attack.
How It Works
Nadolol is a beta-blocker. It works by blocking the effects of certain natural chemicals in your body, such as adrenaline. This helps to slow down your heart rate and relax blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and reduces chest pain.
How to Take It
Take nadolol exactly as your doctor tells you. You can take it with or without food. The usual starting dose is 40 mg once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose every 3 to 7 days to get the best result. Do not stop taking nadolol suddenly, as this can worsen heart problems.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if nadolol will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking nadolol while breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store nadolol tablets at room temperature (68° to 77°F) and protect them from light.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 6,250 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 7,398 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
7,398
Death-Related Reports
602
Hospitalization Reports
2,516
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 1,281 |
| 2 | MACULAR DEGENERATION | 814 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 663 |
| 4 | HEADACHE | 588 |
| 5 | OFF LABEL USE | 580 |
| 6 | FATIGUE | 522 |
| 7 | PAIN | 502 |
| 8 | WEIGHT DECREASED | 455 |
| 9 | DIARRHOEA | 433 |
| 10 | MALAISE | 412 |
| 11 | PYREXIA | 397 |
| 12 | ANAEMIA | 342 |
| 13 | DIZZINESS | 333 |
| 14 | DYSPNOEA | 319 |
| 15 | ABDOMINAL PAIN | 317 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
If you have heart disease and stop taking nadolol suddenly, it can worsen chest pain or cause a heart attack. Your doctor will slowly lower your dose over 1 to 2 weeks. Do not stop taking nadolol without talking to your doctor.
Known Drug Interactions
albuterol, systemic and inhaled mebendazole amoxicillin medroxyprogesterone ampicillin, with or without sulbactam methylprednisolone atenolol metronidazole azithromycin metoprolol caffeine, dietary ingestion nadolol cefaclor nifedipine co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) nizatidine diltiazem norfloxacin dirithromycin ofloxacin enflurane omeprazole famotidine prednisone, prednisolone felodipine ranitidine finasteride rifabutin hydrocortisone roxithromycin isoflurane Sorbitol (purgative doses do not inhibit theophylline absorption) isoniazid sucralfate isradipine terbutaline, s...
Mechanism: Nadolol is a beta-blocker that can block the airway-opening effects of theophylline, which may make it harder for you to breathe.
What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor your breathing closely or choose a different medication for your heart or blood pressure.
Such patients may be unresponsive to the usual doses of epinephrine used to treat allergic reaction.
Mechanism: Nadolol can make your body less responsive to epinephrine, which is the medicine used to treat severe allergic reactions.
What to do: Be aware that standard doses of epinephrine may not work as well if you are taking this medication.
Beta Blockers Nadolol a Monitor for adverse reactions.
Mechanism: Itraconazole can slow down how the body breaks down nadolol, which might lead to higher levels of the beta blocker in the blood.
What to do: Your doctor should watch you closely for side effects like a slow heart rate or low blood pressure.
Common Questions
Can I stop taking nadolol suddenly?
Can I take nadolol with food?
What should I do if I miss a dose?
How should I store nadolol?
What are the common side effects of nadolol?
Can nadolol be used during pregnancy?
Can nadolol be used while breastfeeding?
What is the usual starting dose of nadolol?
What is nadolol used for?
Does nadolol interact with other medications?
What are the common side effects of nadolol?
Does nadolol interact with other medications?
What drug class is nadolol?
Is nadolol safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Non-Selective Beta-Blocker
Other drugs grouped near nadolol — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acebutolol
Sectral
Acebutolol is a medicine that helps lower blood pressure and control irregular heartbeats.
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aliskiren
Tekturna
Tekturna is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure.
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amiloride
Midamor
Amiloride is a water pill that helps your body hold onto potassium.
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amlodipine
Norvasc
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a drug that lowers blood pressure and treats chest pain.
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amlodipine/benazepril
Lotrel
Lotrel is a combination medicine that contains amlodipine and benazepril.
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What the FDA Data Shows for nadolol
The FDA label for nadolol (sold under brand names such as Corgard) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Non-Selective Beta-Blocker class. Nadolol is used to treat angina, which is chest pain. Official labeling lists 1 commonly reported side effect, including Slow heart rate (less than 60 beats per minute).
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 6,250 voluntary reports. The database also lists 3 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.15.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: May 28, 2024
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages