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enalapril vs lisinopril

Side-by-side comparison of enalapril and lisinopril. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
enalapril ACE Inhibitor
lisinopril ACE Inhibitor
Type
enalapril Prescription
lisinopril Prescription
Summary
enalapril

Enalapril (Vasotec) is a medicine that lowers blood pressure and helps treat heart failure. It belongs to a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors.

lisinopril

No summary available.

What It Treats
enalapril

Enalapril is used to treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines, like water pills. Enalapril also treats symptomatic congestive heart failure, usually with other medicines. It can also help clinically stable patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

lisinopril

Information not available.

How It Works
enalapril

Enalapril blocks a substance in your body that tightens blood vessels. This helps your blood vessels relax and widens them. As a result, blood pressure is lowered, and blood can flow more easily.

lisinopril

Information not available.

Common Side Effects
enalapril
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Cough
lisinopril
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Cough
  • Feeling tired
  • Diarrhea
FAERS Reports
enalapril
  • Diarrhea 2,806
  • Difficulty breathing 2,659
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 2,571
  • Tiredness 2,374
  • Medicine interfering with another medicine 2,337
lisinopril
  • Feeling tired 19,347
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 17,995
  • Loose stools 16,772
  • Difficulty breathing 13,649
  • Discomfort 13,304
Serious Warnings
enalapril

This drug can harm your unborn baby. Stop taking enalapril as soon as you know you are pregnant.

lisinopril

No specific warnings noted.

Pregnancy
enalapril

Do not take enalapril if you are pregnant because it can cause harm or death to the developing fetus. Talk to your doctor about safe alternatives if you are breastfeeding.

lisinopril

No pregnancy information available.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This enalapril vs lisinopril Comparison

enalapril is classified in the ACE Inhibitor drug class, while lisinopril sits within the ACE Inhibitor class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory, but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, enalapril has 12,747 submissions while lisinopril has 81,067. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between enalapril and lisinopril - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.