Two medicines, side by side
Enalapril vs losartan
Enalapril and losartan are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of enalapril since 1985 and of losartan since 1995. Pharmacies paid $0.0664 per enalapril maleate 10 mg tablet and $0.0327 per losartan potassium 50 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 losartan an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker.
Check it at the source: the enalapril FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 23, 2026); the losartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 20, 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 losartan record
Losartan (Cozaar) · label of January 20, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue COZAAR as soon as possible. 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 COZAAR as soon as possible. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus.
Used for
From the label: indicationsCOZAAR is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: Treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure in adults and children greater than 6 years old. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. ( 1.1 ) Reduction of the risk of stroke in patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 14, 1995
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0327 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 77
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Enalapril label of January 23, 2026, Losartan label of January 20, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do enalapril and losartan differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, enalapril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and losartan 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.”; Losartan, “Angiotensin II [formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II)] is a potent vasoconstrictor, the primary vasoactive hormone of the …”
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.”; Losartan, “The terminal half-life of losartan is about 2 hours and of the metabolite is about 6-9 hours.”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: enalapril since 2000; losartan since 2010 (Drugs@FDA).
| Enalapril | Losartan | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure | High blood pressure, Chronic kidney disease, Stroke prevention |
| 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 [formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II)] is a potent vasoconstrictor, the primary vasoactive hormone of the renin-angiotensin system, and an important component … |
| Half-life (label) | The effective half-life for accumulation of enalaprilat following multiple doses of enalapril maleate is 11 hours. | The terminal half-life of losartan is about 2 hours and of the metabolite is about 6-9 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 24, 1985 | April 14, 1995 |
| First generic approved | August 22, 2000 | April 6, 2010 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 28 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0664 per tablet (Enalapril maleate 10 mg tablet) | $0.0327 per tablet (Losartan potassium 50 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | +2% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 17 | 77 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 60,702 | 200,566 |
| 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