Two medicines, side by side
Atenolol vs enalapril
Atenolol and enalapril are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of atenolol since 1981 and of enalapril since 1985. Pharmacies paid $0.0217 per atenolol 25 mg tablet and $0.0664 per enalapril maleate 10 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, atenolol is a beta-adrenergic blocker and enalapril an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the atenolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 18, 2025); the enalapril FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 23, 2026).
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
Highlights of the enalapril record
Enalapril (Vasotec) · label of January 23, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
When pregnancy is detected, discontinue VASOTEC ® as soon as possible.
Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus (see WARNINGS, Fetal Toxicity ).
Used for
From the label: indicationsHypertension VASOTEC is indicated for the treatment of hypertension. VASOTEC is effective alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents, especially thiazide-type diuretics. The blood pressure lowering effects of VASOTEC and thiazides are approximately additive. Heart Failure VASOTEC is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic congestive heart failure, usually in combination with diuretics and digitalis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 24, 1985
- Generic labelers
- 28 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0664 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 17
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Atenolol label of September 18, 2025, Enalapril label of January 23, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do atenolol and enalapril differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, atenolol is a beta-adrenergic blocker and enalapril an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.
Half-life, in each label's words: Atenolol, “The elimination half-life of oral TENORMIN is approximately 6 to 7 hours, and there is no alteration of the kinetic …”; Enalapril, “The effective half-life for accumulation of enalaprilat following multiple doses of enalapril maleate is 11 hours.”
Only the enalapril label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: atenolol since 1988; enalapril since 2000 (Drugs@FDA).
| Atenolol | Enalapril | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart attack and coronary artery disease | High blood pressure, Heart failure |
| Pharmacologic class | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Mechanism of Action Enalapril, after hydrolysis to enalaprilat, inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals. |
| Half-life (label) | 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. | The effective half-life for accumulation of enalaprilat following multiple doses of enalapril maleate is 11 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 19, 1981 | December 24, 1985 |
| First generic approved | July 15, 1988 | August 22, 2000 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 35 labelers | 28 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0217 per tablet (Atenolol 25 mg tablet) | $0.0664 per tablet (Enalapril maleate 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -3% | -12% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 17 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 132,491 | 60,702 |
| 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)
What next?
- Alternatives to atenolol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions