Two medicines, side by side
Benazepril vs olmesartan
Benazepril and olmesartan are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of benazepril since 1991 and of olmesartan since 2002. Pharmacies paid $0.0789 per benazepril HCl 20 mg tablet and $0.0805 per olmesartan medoxomil 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026). In FDA's classes, benazepril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and olmesartan an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker.
Check it at the source: the benazepril FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 30, 2025); the olmesartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 23, 2025).
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 olmesartan record
Olmesartan (Benicar) · label of September 23, 2025
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Benicar as soon as possible ( 5.1 , 8.1 ). Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus ( 5.1 , 8.1 ). WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Benicar as soon as possible ( 5.1 , 8.1 ).
Used for
From the label: indicationsBenicar is indicated for the treatment of hypertension in adults and children six years of age and older, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 25, 2002
- Generic labelers
- 30 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0805 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Benazepril label of September 30, 2025, Olmesartan label of September 23, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do benazepril and olmesartan differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, benazepril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and olmesartan an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker.
How each works, in its label's words: Benazepril, “Benazepril and benazeprilat inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals.”; Olmesartan, “Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II).”
Half-life, in each label's words: Benazepril, “The effective half-life of benazeprilat following once daily repeat oral administration of benazepril hydrochloride is …”; Olmesartan, “Olmesartan appears to be eliminated in a biphasic manner with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 13 …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: benazepril since 2004; olmesartan since 2016 (Drugs@FDA).
| Benazepril | Olmesartan | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker |
| 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. | Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II). |
| Half-life (label) | The effective half-life of benazeprilat following once daily repeat oral administration of benazepril hydrochloride is 10 to 11 hours. | Olmesartan appears to be eliminated in a biphasic manner with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 13 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 25, 1991 | April 25, 2002 |
| First generic approved | February 11, 2004 | October 26, 2016 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 21 labelers | 30 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0789 per tablet (Benazepril HCl 20 mg tablet) | $0.0805 per tablet (Olmesartan medoxomil 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +6% | +1% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,283 | 35,743 |
| 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