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Learn more about conditions treated with Beta-Blockers.

Beta-Blockers: Summary of Recommendations

Beta-blockers are used by tens of millions of Americans to treat high blood pressure and other heart ailments. They are effective, life-saving medicines with more than 25 years of widespread and generally safe use.

The cost of these drugs varies from less than $10 per month to more than $200, so your choice of medicine could mean a big difference in expense. Our report, which evaluates the effectiveness, safety, and cost of 15 beta-blockers in the treatment of high blood pressure, angina (the chest pain that occurs in people with coronary artery disease), heart attack and heart failure, gives you information that could save you up to $1,000 to $2,000 a year if you take a generic beta-blocker instead of a brand-name one.

  Taking effectiveness, safety and cost into account, we have selected the following beta-blockers, at all appropriate doses, as Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs:
  • For high blood pressure— atenolol, metoprolol tartrate, nadolol, and propranolol
  • For angina — atenolol, metoprolol tartrate, nadolol, and propranolol
  • After a heart attack— atenolol, metoprolol tartrate, and propranolol
  • For mild heart failure — bisoprolol, carvedilol, and metoprolol succinate
  • For severe heart failure — carvedilol

All of these medicines are available as low-cost generics. All have been proven to be either as effective or superior to other beta-blockers. Carvedilol has the strongest evidence of increasing survival in people with the most severe forms of heart failure. A new sustained-release, once-daily form of carvedilol called carvedilol phosphate (Coreg CR) is now available. It has the same active ingredient and, taken once a day, is expected to be as effective against severe heart failure as the immediate-release form, when taken twice daily. But Coreg CR is not yet available as a generic and it is substantially more expensive than the original form of carvedilol.

All beta-blockers are effective against high blood pressure. But because people with high blood pressure may respond to the various beta-blockers differently, you may have to try more than one before finding the drug that works best for you. Beta-blockers are considered “second step” treatment after diuretics (widely known as “water pills”) if you only have high blood pressure and no other heart condition. They are best used in combination with other blood pressure medicines in treating high blood pressure.

In contrast, if you have angina, heart failure, or if you have had a heart attack – with or without high blood pressure – our Best Buy beta-blockers may well be a first step treatment for you. Note: As this report goes to print in June 2009, there is a shortage of generic metoprolol succinate, so if you are unable to obtain this drug, you may have to consider one of our other Best Buy beta-blockers. You should discuss this with your doctor.

This information was released and last updated in June 2009.


Beta–Blockers: Drug Comparison
CR Best Buy Beta-blocker name, dosage strength and form Product name Daily dosage frequency1 Total daily dosage Average monthly cost2 Best Buy Indication Compare Prices
  Acebutolol 200 mg capsule Generic2 One 200 mg $21  
  Acebutolol 200 mg capsule Sectral One 200 mg $123  
  Acebutolol 400 mg capsule Generic One 400 mg $58  
  Acebutolol 400 mg capsule Sectral One 400 mg $135  
  Acebutolol 400 mg capsule Generic Two 800 mg $42  
  Acebutolol 400 mg capsule Sectral Two 800 mg $270  
  Acebutolol 400 mg capsule Generic Three 1200 mg $87  
  Acebutolol 400 mg capsule Sectral Three 1200 mg $405  
Atenolol 25 mg tablet Generic One 25 mg $6 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
  Atenolol 25 mg tablet Tenormin One 25 mg $67  
Atenolol 25 mg tablet Generic Two 50 mg $12 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
  Atenolol 25 mg tablet Tenormin Two 50 mg $134  
Atenolol 50 mg tablet Generic One 50 mg $6 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
  Atenolol 50 mg tablet Tenormin One 50 mg $62  
Atenolol 50 mg tablet Generic Two 100 mg $12 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
  Atenolol 50 mg tablet Tenormin Two 100 mg $124  
Atenolol 100 mg tablet Generic One 100 mg $8 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
  Atenolol 100 mg tablet Tenormin One 100 mg $98  
Atenolol 100 mg tablet Generic Two 200 mg $16 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
  Atenolol 100 mg tablet Tenormin Two 200 mg $196  
  Betaxolol 10 mg tablet Generic One 10 mg $37  
  Betaxolol 10 mg tablet Kerlone One 10 mg $61  
  Betaxolol 20 mg tablet Generic One 20 mg $52  
  Betaxolol 20 mg tablet Kerlone One 20 mg No price available  
Bisoprolol 5 mg tablet Generic One 5 mg $39 Mild heart failure
  Bisoprolol 5 mg tablet Zebeta One 5 mg $102  
Bisoprolol 10 mg tablet Generic One 10 mg $39 Mild heart failure
  Bisoprolol 10 mg tablet Zebeta One 10 mg $112  
Bisoprolol 10 mg tablet Generic Two 20 mg $78 Mild heart failure
  Bisoprolol 10 mg tablet Zebeta Two 20 mg $224  
Carvedilol 3.125 mg tablet Generic Two 6.25 mg $46 Mild and severe heart failure
  Carvedilol 3.125 mg tablet Coreg Two 6.25 mg $164  
Carvedilol 6.25 mg tablet Generic Two 12.5 mg $44 Mild and severe heart failure
  Carvedilol 6.25 mg tablet Coreg Two 12.5 mg $162  
Carvedilol 12.5 mg tablet Generic Two 25 mg $44 Mild and severe heart failure
  Carvedilol 12.5 mg tablet Coreg Two 25 mg $166  
Carvedilol 25 mg tablet Generic Two 50 mg $44 Mild and severe heart failure
  Carvedilol 25 mg tablet Coreg Two 50 mg $162  
  Carvedilol 10 mg sustained release capsule Coreg CR One 10 mg $150  
  Carvedilol 20 mg sustained release capsule Coreg CR One 20 mg $151  
  Carvedilol 40 mg sustained release capsule Coreg CR One 40 mg $150  
  Carvedilol 80 mg sustained release capsule Coreg CR One 80 mg $149  
  Labetalol 100 mg tablet Generic Two 200 mg $24  
  Labetalol 100 mg tablet Trandate Two 200 mg $58  
  Labetalol 200 mg tablet Generic Two 400 mg $32  
  Labetalol 200 mg tablet Trandate Two 400 mg $70  
  Labetalol 300 mg tablet Generic Two 600 mg $44  
  Labetalol 200 mg tablet Generic Four 800 mg $64  
  Labetalol 200 mg tablet Trandate Four 800 mg $140  
Metoprolol succinate 25 mg sustained release tablet Generic One 25 mg $29 Mild heart failure
  Metoprolol succinate 25 mg sustained release tablet Toprol XL One 25 mg $45  
Metoprolol succinate 50 mg sustained release tablet Generic One 50 mg $30 Mild heart failure
  Metoprolol succinate 50 mg sustained release tablet Toprol XL One 50 mg $44  
Metoprolol succinate 100 mg sustained release tablet Generic One 100 mg $44 Mild heart failure
  Metoprolol succinate 100 mg sustained release tablet Toprol XL One 100 mg $63  
Metoprolol succinate 200 mg sustained release tablet Generic One 200 mg $67 Mild heart failure
  Metoprolol succinate 200 mg sustained release tablet Toprol XL One 200 mg $103  
Metoprolol tartrate 25 mg tablet Generic One 25 mg $4 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
Metoprolol tartrate 50 mg tablet Generic One 50 mg $4 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
  Metoprolol tartrate 50 mg tablet Lopressor One 50 mg $54  
Metoprolol tartrate 100 mg tablet Generic One 100 mg $6 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
  Metoprolol tartrate 100 mg tablet Lopressor One 100 mg $80  
Nadolol 20 mg tablet Generic One 20 mg $8 Angina, high blood pressure
  Nadolol 20 mg tablet Corgard One 20 mg $99  
Nadolol 40 mg tablet Generic One 40 mg $8 Angina, high blood pressure
  Nadolol 40 mg tablet Corgard One 40 mg $100  
Nadolol 80 mg tablet Generic One 80 mg $24 Angina, high blood pressure
  Nadolol 80 mg tablet Corgard One 80 mg $154  
Nadolol 120 mg tablet Generic One 120 mg $55 Angina, high blood pressure
  Nadolol 120 mg tablet Corgard One 120 mg $115  
Nadolol 160 mg tablet Generic One 160 mg $55 Angina, high blood pressure
  Nadolol 160 mg tablet Corgard One 160 mg $137  
  Nebivolol 2.5 mg tablet Bystolic One 2.5 mg $68  
  Nebivolol 5 mg tablet Bystolic One 5 mg $68  
  Nebivolol 10 mg tablet Bystolic One 10 mg $68  
  Nebivolol 10 mg tablet Bystolic Two 20 mg $136  
  Nebivolol 10 mg tablet Bystolic Three 30 mg $204  
  Nebivolol 10 mg tablet Bystolic Four 40 mg $272  
  Penbutolol 20 mg tablet Levatol One 20 mg $91  
  Penbutolol 20 mg tablet Levatol Two 40 mg $182  
  Pindolol 5 mg tablet Generic Two 10 mg $14  
  Pindolol 10 mg tablet Generic Two 20 mg $14  
  Pindolol 10 mg tablet Generic Three 30 mg $21  
  Pindolol 10 mg tablet Generic Four 40 mg $28  
  Pindolol 10 mg tablet Generic Five 50 mg $35  
  Pindolol 10 mg tablet Generic Six 60 mg $42  
Propranolol 10 mg tablet Generic Two 20 mg $8 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
  Propranolol 10 mg tablet Inderal Two 20 mg $34  
Propranolol 20 mg tablet Generic Two 40 mg $8 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
  Propranolol 20 mg tablet Inderal Two 40 mg $54  
Propranolol 40 mg tablet Generic Two 80 mg $24 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
  Propranolol 40 mg tablet Inderal Two 80 mg $60  
Propranolol 60 mg tablet Generic Two 120 mg $56 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
  Propranolol 60 mg tablet Inderal Two 120 mg $80  
Propranolol 80 mg tablet Generic Two 160 mg $32 Angina, heart attack, high blood pressure
  Propranolol 80 mg tablet Inderal Two 160 mg $98  
  Propranolol 60 mg sustained release capsule Generic One 60 mg $42  
  Propranolol 60 mg sustained release capsule Inderal LA One 60 mg $130  
  Propranolol 60 mg sustained release capsule Betachron One 60 mg $23  
  Propranolol 80 mg sustained release capsule Generic One 80 mg $48  
  Propranolol 80 mg sustained release capsule Inderal LA One 80 mg $145  
  Propranolol 120 mg sustained release capsule Generic One 120 mg $58  
  Propranolol 120 mg sustained release capsule Inderal LA One 120 mg $191  
  Propranolol 160 mg sustained release capsule Generic One 160 mg $79  
  Propranolol 160 mg sustained release capsule Inderal LA One 160 mg $270  
  Propranolol 80 mg continuous delivery capsule Innopran XL One 80 mg $84  
  Propranolol 120 mg continuous delivery capsule Innopran XL One 120 mg $85  
  Timolol 5 mg tablet Generic Two 10 mg $24  
  Timolol 10 mg tablet Generic Two 20 mg $32  
  Timolol 10 mg tablet Generic Three 30 mg $48  
  Timolol 20 mg tablet Generic Two 40 mg $46  
1. Depending on your health conditions, symptoms and response to the medicine, your doctor may adjust your dose to be either higher or lower than what we've stated in this price chart.

2. "Generic" indicates that this drug is sold by its generic name. For example, in this table, for the first drug listed, acebutolol, is the generic or chemical name and Sectral is the brand name. Both are available and they have the same active ingredient. In column 2, when the word"generic" appears, the price given is for the generic version. Note that the generic will almost always cost much less than the brand-name version.

3. Prices reflect nationwide retail average for February 2009, rounded to the nearest dollar. Information derived by Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs from data provided by Wolters Kluwer Health, Pharmaceutical Audit Suite®. Wolters Kluwer Health is not involved in our analysis or recommendations.

Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs is a free public education project that provides free guidance on the safety, effectiveness and cost of drugs. Learn more