enalapril vs quinapril
Side-by-side comparison of enalapril and quinapril Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Enalapril (Vasotec) is a medicine that lowers blood pressure and helps treat heart failure. It belongs to a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors.
Quinapril is a medicine that lowers blood pressure. It can also help manage heart failure when used with other treatments.
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.
Quinapril is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Quinapril can also be used to manage heart failure, along with other medicines like diuretics.
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.
Quinapril belongs to a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors. It works by blocking a substance in your body that tightens blood vessels. This helps your blood vessels relax and widens them, which lowers your blood pressure and makes it easier for your heart to pump.
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Fatigue
- • Cough
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Fatigue
- • Coughing
- • Nausea
- Diarrhea 2,806
- Difficulty breathing 2,659
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,571
- Medicine not working 2,548
- Tiredness 2,374
- The medicine is not working 465
- Falling down 420
- Feeling sick to your stomach 407
- Difficulty breathing 405
- Aches and pains 386
This drug can harm your unborn baby. Stop taking enalapril as soon as you know you are pregnant.
You should not take quinapril if you are allergic to it or any other ACE inhibitor. You should not take quinapril if you have a history of angioedema (swelling) related to ACE inhibitors. Do not take quinapril with a neprilysin inhibitor like sacubitril. If you have diabetes, do not take quinapril with aliskiren.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Quinapril can harm your unborn baby, especially if you take it during the second or third trimester. It is not known if quinapril passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.
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How to Read This enalapril vs quinapril Comparison
enalapril is classified in the ACE Inhibitor drug class, while quinapril 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 12,958 submissions while quinapril has 2,083. 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 quinapril — 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.