Two medicines, side by side
Captopril vs enalapril
Captopril and enalapril are both labeled for high blood pressure and heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of captopril since 1981 and of enalapril since 1985. Pharmacies paid $0.228 per captopril 12.5 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.
Check it at the source: the captopril FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 6, 2026); the enalapril FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 23, 2026).
Highlights of the captopril record
Captopril (Capoten) · label of February 6, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue captopril 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 Captopril tablets are indicated for the treatment of hypertension. In using captopril tablets, consideration should be given to the risk of neutropenia/agranulocytosis (see WARNINGS ). Captopril tablets may be used as initial therapy for patients with normal renal function, in whom the risk is relatively low. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 6, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 13 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.228 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
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 (Captopril label of February 6, 2026, Enalapril label of January 23, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do captopril and enalapril differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.
Half-life, in each label's words: Captopril, “The apparent elimination half-life for total radioactivity in blood is probably less than 3 hours.”; 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: captopril since 1995; enalapril since 2000 (Drugs@FDA).
| Captopril | Enalapril | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure, Chronic kidney disease | High blood pressure, Heart failure |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Mechanism of Action Enalapril, after hydrolysis to enalaprilat, inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals. |
| Half-life (label) | The apparent elimination half-life for total radioactivity in blood is probably less than 3 hours. | The effective half-life for accumulation of enalaprilat following multiple doses of enalapril maleate is 11 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 6, 1981 | December 24, 1985 |
| First generic approved | March 31, 1995 | August 22, 2000 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 13 labelers | 28 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.228 per tablet (Captopril 12.5 mg tablet) | $0.0664 per tablet (Enalapril maleate 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -28% | -12% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 17 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 9,557 | 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Enalapril label, warningsNeutropenia/Agranulocytosis Another angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril, has been shown to cause agranulocytosis and bone marrow depression, rarely in uncomplicated patients but more frequently in patients with renal impairment, especially if they also have a collagen vascular disease.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to captopril
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions