Two medicines, side by side
Atenolol vs lisinopril
Atenolol and lisinopril are both labeled for high blood pressure and heart attack and coronary artery disease. Drugs@FDA records approvals of atenolol since 1981 and of lisinopril since 1987. Pharmacies paid $0.0217 per atenolol 25 mg tablet and $0.0254 per lisinopril 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Lisinopril's other strengths are brand-only: $4.50 per mL (Qbrelis 1 mg/mL solution). In FDA's classes, atenolol is a beta-adrenergic blocker and lisinopril an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the atenolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 18, 2025); the lisinopril FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 2, 2025).
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 lisinopril record
Lisinopril (Zestril) · label of January 2, 2025
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue ZESTRIL as soon as possible [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Zestril as soon as possible.
Used for
From the label: indicationsZestril is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor indicated for: Treatment of hypertension in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older ( 1.1 ) Adjunct therapy for heart failure ( 1.2 ) Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Hypertension Zestril is indicated for the treatment of hypertension in adult patients and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older to lower blood pressure. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 29, 1987
- Generic labelers
- 36 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0254 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 28
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Atenolol label of September 18, 2025, Lisinopril label of January 2, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do atenolol and lisinopril differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, atenolol is a beta-adrenergic blocker and lisinopril 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 …”; Lisinopril, “Upon multiple dosing, lisinopril exhibits an effective half-life of 12 hours.”
Only the lisinopril label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: atenolol since 1988; lisinopril since 2002 (Drugs@FDA).
| Atenolol | Lisinopril | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart attack and coronary artery disease | High blood pressure, Heart attack and coronary artery disease, Heart failure |
| Pharmacologic class | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Lisinopril inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals. ACE is a peptidyl dipeptidase that catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin I to the vasoconstrictor substance, angiotensin II. |
| 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. | Upon multiple dosing, lisinopril exhibits an effective half-life of 12 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 19, 1981 | December 29, 1987 |
| First generic approved | July 15, 1988 | July 1, 2002 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 35 labelers | 36 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0217 per tablet (Atenolol 25 mg tablet) | $0.0254 per tablet (Lisinopril 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -3% | -3% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 28 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 132,491 | 304,309 |
| 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