fosinopril vs quinapril

PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.

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

minor Known Drug Interaction

Monitor renal function periodically in patients receiving quinapril and NSAID therapy.

Drug Class
fosinopril ACE Inhibitor
quinapril ACE Inhibitor
Type
fosinopril Prescription
quinapril Prescription
Summary
fosinopril

Fosinopril is a medicine that lowers blood pressure. It can also help manage heart failure.

quinapril

Quinapril is a medicine that lowers blood pressure. It can also help manage heart failure when used with other treatments.

What It Treats
fosinopril

Fosinopril is used to treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or with a water pill (diuretic). Fosinopril also helps manage heart failure when used with other medicines.

quinapril

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.

How It Works
fosinopril

Fosinopril 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 lowers your blood pressure.

quinapril

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.

Common Side Effects
fosinopril
  • Cough
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
quinapril
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Coughing
  • Nausea
FAERS Reports
fosinopril
  • Fatigue 239
  • Diarrhoea 232
  • Dyspnoea 210
  • Nausea 204
  • Dizziness 179
quinapril
  • Fall 420
  • Nausea 407
  • Dyspnoea 404
  • Pain 385
  • Diarrhoea 350
Serious Warnings
fosinopril

Fosinopril can harm your unborn baby, even causing death. Stop taking fosinopril as soon as you know you are pregnant.

quinapril

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.

Pregnancy
fosinopril

Do not take fosinopril if you are pregnant. It can cause serious harm or death to your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about other blood pressure medicines if you are breastfeeding.

quinapril

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.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This fosinopril vs quinapril Comparison

fosinopril 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, fosinopril has 1,064 submissions while quinapril has 1,966. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both of these drugs belong to the same class, and using them together can put extra stress on your kidneys.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for fosinopril or quinapril.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.