Two medicines, side by side
Benazepril vs telmisartan
Benazepril and telmisartan are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of benazepril since 1991 and of telmisartan since 1998. Pharmacies paid $0.0789 per benazepril HCl 20 mg tablet and $0.106 per telmisartan 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026). In FDA's classes, benazepril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and telmisartan an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker.
Check it at the source: the benazepril FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 30, 2025); the telmisartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 29, 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 telmisartan record
Telmisartan (Micardis) · label of May 29, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue telmisartan as soon as possible [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]. WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warnings.
Used for
From the label: indicationsTelmisartanis an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: Treatment of hypertension to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions(1.1) 1.1 Hypertension Telmisartan is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 10, 1998
- Generic labelers
- 28 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.106 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Benazepril label of September 30, 2025, Telmisartan label of May 29, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do benazepril and telmisartan differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, benazepril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and telmisartan 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.”; Telmisartan, “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 …”; Telmisartan, “Telmisartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 24 hours.”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: benazepril since 2004; telmisartan since 2014 (Drugs@FDA).
| Benazepril | Telmisartan | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| 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. | Telmisartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 24 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 25, 1991 | November 10, 1998 |
| First generic approved | February 11, 2004 | January 8, 2014 |
| 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) | $0.106 per tablet (Telmisartan 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +6% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,283 | 17,745 |
| 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