Two medicines, side by side
Captopril vs lisinopril
Captopril and lisinopril are both labeled for high blood pressure and heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of captopril since 1981 and of lisinopril since 1987. Pharmacies paid $0.228 per captopril 12.5 mg tablet and $0.0254 per lisinopril 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Lisinopril's other strengths are brand-only: $4.50 per mL (Qbrelis 1 mg/mL solution).
Check it at the source: the captopril FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 6, 2026); the lisinopril FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 2, 2025).
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 lisinopril record
Lisinopril (Zestril) · label of January 2, 2025
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue ZESTRIL as soon as possible [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Zestril as soon as possible.
Used for
From the label: indicationsZestril is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor indicated for: Treatment of hypertension in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older ( 1.1 ) Adjunct therapy for heart failure ( 1.2 ) Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Hypertension Zestril is indicated for the treatment of hypertension in adult patients and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older to lower blood pressure. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 29, 1987
- Generic labelers
- 36 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0254 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 28
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Captopril label of February 6, 2026, Lisinopril label of January 2, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do captopril and lisinopril 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.”; Lisinopril, “Upon multiple dosing, lisinopril exhibits an effective half-life of 12 hours.”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: captopril since 1995; lisinopril since 2002 (Drugs@FDA).
| Captopril | Lisinopril | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure, Chronic kidney disease | High blood pressure, Heart attack and coronary artery disease, Heart failure |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Lisinopril inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals. ACE is a peptidyl dipeptidase that catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin I to the vasoconstrictor substance, angiotensin II. |
| Half-life (label) | The apparent elimination half-life for total radioactivity in blood is probably less than 3 hours. | Upon multiple dosing, lisinopril exhibits an effective half-life of 12 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 6, 1981 | December 29, 1987 |
| First generic approved | March 31, 1995 | July 1, 2002 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 13 labelers | 36 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.228 per tablet (Captopril 12.5 mg tablet) | $0.0254 per tablet (Lisinopril 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -28% | -3% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 28 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 9,557 | 304,309 |
| 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 captopril
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions