Two medicines, side by side
Enalapril vs nifedipine
Enalapril and nifedipine are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of enalapril since 1985 and of nifedipine since 1981. Pharmacies paid $0.0664 per enalapril maleate 10 mg tablet and $0.130 per nifedipine ER 30 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 nifedipine a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker.
Check it at the source: the enalapril FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 23, 2026); the nifedipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 24, 2024).
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 nifedipine record
Nifedipine (Procardia) · label of December 24, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsNifedipine extended-release tablets are indicated for the treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 31, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 32 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.130 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Enalapril label of January 23, 2026, Nifedipine label of December 24, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do enalapril and nifedipine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, enalapril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and nifedipine a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker.
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.”; Nifedipine, “The elimination half-life of nifedipine administered as nifedipine extended-release tablets are approximately 7 hours …”
Only the enalapril label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: enalapril since 2000; nifedipine since 1989 (Drugs@FDA).
| Enalapril | Nifedipine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure | High blood pressure, Angina |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Mechanism of Action Enalapril, after hydrolysis to enalaprilat, inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The effective half-life for accumulation of enalaprilat following multiple doses of enalapril maleate is 11 hours. | The elimination half-life of nifedipine administered as nifedipine extended-release tablets are approximately 7 hours in contrast to the known 2 hour elimination half-life of nifedipine administered as an immediate … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 24, 1985 | December 31, 1981 |
| First generic approved | August 22, 2000 | April 28, 1989 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 28 labelers | 32 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0664 per tablet (Enalapril maleate 10 mg tablet) | $0.130 per tablet (Nifedipine ER 30 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | +19% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 17 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 60,702 | 41,059 |
| 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