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lisinopril vs quinapril

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

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

Lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide is a drug that lowers blood pressure. It contains two medicines that work together to help your heart.

quinapril

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

What It Treats
lisinopril

This medicine treats high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. You should also manage cholesterol, diabetes, and quit smoking to improve your heart health.

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
lisinopril

Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor that widens blood vessels. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that helps your body get rid of extra salt and water. Together, they lower blood pressure more effectively.

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
lisinopril
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Cough
  • Feeling tired
  • Diarrhea
quinapril
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Coughing
  • Nausea
FAERS Reports
lisinopril
  • Feeling tired 19,347
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 17,995
  • The medicine is not working 17,182
  • Loose stools 16,772
  • Difficulty breathing 13,649
quinapril
  • The medicine is not working 465
  • Falling down 420
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 407
  • Difficulty breathing 405
  • Aches and pains 386
Serious Warnings
lisinopril

This drug can harm your unborn baby, even causing death. Stop taking this medicine 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
lisinopril

Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. It can cause serious harm or death to your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about safe alternatives 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 lisinopril vs quinapril Comparison

lisinopril 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, lisinopril has 84,945 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 lisinopril 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.