Two medicines, side by side
Enalapril vs verapamil
Enalapril and verapamil are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of enalapril since 1985 and of verapamil since 1981. Pharmacies paid $0.0664 per enalapril maleate 10 mg tablet and $0.191 per verapamil ER 180 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 verapamil a calcium channel blocker.
Check it at the source: the enalapril FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 23, 2026); the verapamil FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 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 verapamil record
Verapamil (Isoptin) · label of April 6, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsVerapamil hydrochloride extended-release tablets are indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes including this drug. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 12, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.191 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Enalapril label of January 23, 2026, Verapamil label of April 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do enalapril and verapamil differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, enalapril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and verapamil a calcium channel 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.”; Verapamil, “Mechanism of action Essential hypertension: Verapamil exerts antihypertensive effects by decreasing systemic vascular resistance, usually without orthostatic decreases in blood pressure or reflex …”
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.”; Verapamil, “The mean elimination half-life in single-dose studies ranged from 2.8 to 7.4 hours.”
Only the enalapril label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: enalapril since 2000; verapamil since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Enalapril | Verapamil | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure | High blood pressure, Atrial fibrillation, Angina |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor | 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. | Mechanism of action Essential hypertension: Verapamil exerts antihypertensive effects by decreasing systemic vascular resistance, usually without orthostatic decreases in blood pressure or reflex tachycardia; … |
| Half-life (label) | The effective half-life for accumulation of enalaprilat following multiple doses of enalapril maleate is 11 hours. | The mean elimination half-life in single-dose studies ranged from 2.8 to 7.4 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 24, 1985 | August 12, 1981 |
| First generic approved | August 22, 2000 | November 12, 1985 |
| 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) | $0.191 per tablet (Verapamil ER 180 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | +7% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 17 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 60,702 | 4,242 |
| 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