Two medicines, side by side
Enalapril vs irbesartan
Enalapril and irbesartan are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of enalapril since 1985 and of irbesartan since 1997. Pharmacies paid $0.0664 per enalapril maleate 10 mg tablet and $0.107 per irbesartan 150 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, enalapril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and irbesartan an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker.
Check it at the source: the enalapril FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 23, 2026); the irbesartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 6, 2026).
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
Highlights of the irbesartan record
Irbesartan (Avapro) · label of August 6, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY
When pregnancy is detected, discontinue irbesartan tablets 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 warning.
Used for
From the label: indicationsIrbesartan is 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 ) Treatment of diabetic nephropathy in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes, an elevated serum creatinine, and proteinuria. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 30, 1997
- Generic labelers
- 23 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.107 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Enalapril label of January 23, 2026, Irbesartan label of August 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do enalapril and irbesartan differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, enalapril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and irbesartan an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker.
How each works, in its label's words: Enalapril, “Mechanism of Action Enalapril, after hydrolysis to enalaprilat, inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals.”; Irbesartan, “Angiotensin II is a potent vasoconstrictor formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II).”
Half-life, in each label's words: Enalapril, “The effective half-life for accumulation of enalaprilat following multiple doses of enalapril maleate is 11 hours.”; Irbesartan, “The terminal elimination half-life of irbesartan averages 11 to 15 hours.”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: enalapril since 2000; irbesartan since 2012 (Drugs@FDA).
| Enalapril | Irbesartan | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure | High blood pressure, Chronic kidney disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Mechanism of Action Enalapril, after hydrolysis to enalaprilat, inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals. | Angiotensin II is a potent vasoconstrictor formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II). |
| Half-life (label) | The effective half-life for accumulation of enalaprilat following multiple doses of enalapril maleate is 11 hours. | The terminal elimination half-life of irbesartan averages 11 to 15 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 24, 1985 | September 30, 1997 |
| First generic approved | August 22, 2000 | March 30, 2012 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 28 labelers | 23 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0664 per tablet (Enalapril maleate 10 mg tablet) | $0.107 per tablet (Irbesartan 150 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 17 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 60,702 | 44,400 |
| 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 enalapril
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions