Two medicines, side by side
Benazepril vs quinapril
Benazepril and quinapril are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of benazepril since 1991 and of quinapril since 1991.
Check it at the source: the benazepril FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 30, 2025); the quinapril FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 14, 2023).
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 quinapril record
Quinapril (Accupril) · label of December 14, 2023
FETAL TOXICITY
When pregnancy is detected, discontinue quinapril tablets 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 Quinapril tablets USP are 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. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 19, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 9 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Benazepril label of September 30, 2025, Quinapril label of December 14, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do benazepril and quinapril differ on the record?
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 …”; Quinapril, “Following multiple oral dosing of quinapril, there is an effective accumulation half-life of quinaprilat of …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: benazepril since 2004; quinapril since 2004 (Drugs@FDA).
| Benazepril | Quinapril | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The effective half-life of benazeprilat following once daily repeat oral administration of benazepril hydrochloride is 10 to 11 hours. | Following multiple oral dosing of quinapril, there is an effective accumulation half-life of quinaprilat of approximately 3 hours, and peak plasma quinaprilat concentrations are observed approximately 2 hours post-dose. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 25, 1991 | November 19, 1991 |
| First generic approved | February 11, 2004 | December 15, 2004 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 21 labelers | 9 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0789 per tablet (Benazepril HCl 20 mg tablet) | n/a |
| 12-month price change | +6% | n/a |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,283 | 7,842 |
| 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