Two medicines, side by side
Benazepril vs enalapril
Benazepril and enalapril are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of benazepril since 1991 and of enalapril since 1985. Pharmacies paid $0.0789 per benazepril HCl 20 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. How each works, in its label's words: Benazepril, “Benazepril and benazeprilat inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals.”; Enalapril, “Mechanism of Action Enalapril, after hydrolysis to enalaprilat, inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals.”
Check it at the source: the benazepril FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 30, 2025); the enalapril FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 23, 2026).
Highlights of the benazepril record
Benazepril (Lotensin) · label of September 30, 2025
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinueLotensin as soon as possible. Drugs thatactdirectlyon the renin-angiotensin system can causeinjury and death to the developing fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. WARNING-FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribinginformation forcomplete boxed warning. When pregnancyis detected, discontinue Lotensin as soon as possible. ( 5.1 ) Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus.
Used for
From the label: indicationsINDICATIONS AND USAGE Lotensin ® 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 class to which this drug principally belongs. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 25, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 21 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0789 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
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 (Benazepril label of September 30, 2025, Enalapril label of January 23, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do benazepril and enalapril differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Benazepril, “Benazepril and benazeprilat inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals.”; Enalapril, “Mechanism of Action Enalapril, after hydrolysis to enalaprilat, inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals.”
Both are in FDA's class angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.
Half-life, in each label's words: Benazepril, “The effective half-life of benazeprilat following once daily repeat oral administration of benazepril hydrochloride is …”; Enalapril, “The effective half-life for accumulation of enalaprilat following multiple doses of enalapril maleate is 11 hours.”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: benazepril since 2004; enalapril since 2000 (Drugs@FDA).
| Benazepril | Enalapril | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure, Heart failure |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Benazepril and benazeprilat inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals. Benazeprilat has much greater ACE inhibitory activity than does benazepril. | Mechanism of Action Enalapril, after hydrolysis to enalaprilat, inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals. |
| Half-life (label) | The effective half-life of benazeprilat following once daily repeat oral administration of benazepril hydrochloride is 10 to 11 hours. | The effective half-life for accumulation of enalaprilat following multiple doses of enalapril maleate is 11 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 25, 1991 | December 24, 1985 |
| First generic approved | February 11, 2004 | August 22, 2000 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 21 labelers | 28 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0789 per tablet (Benazepril HCl 20 mg tablet) | $0.0664 per tablet (Enalapril maleate 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +6% | -12% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 17 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,283 | 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 benazepril
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions