Two medicines, side by side
Valsartan vs quinapril
Valsartan and quinapril are both labeled for high blood pressure and heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of valsartan since 1996 and of quinapril since 1991. In FDA's classes, valsartan is an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker and quinapril an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the valsartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 5, 2026); the quinapril FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 14, 2023).
Highlights of the valsartan record
Valsartan (Diovan) · label of August 5, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY
When pregnancy is detected, discontinue valsartan tablets as soon as possible. ( 5.1 )
Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus. ( 5.1 ) WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue valsartan tablets as soon as possible. ( 5.1 ).
Used for
From the label: indicationsValsartan tablets are an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: • Hypertension, to lower blood pressure in adults and children 6 years and older. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 23, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 34 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0963 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 58
Highlights of the quinapril record
Quinapril (Accupril) · label of December 14, 2023
FETAL TOXICITY
When pregnancy is detected, discontinue quinapril tablets 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 Quinapril tablets USP 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. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 19, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 9 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Valsartan label of August 5, 2026, Quinapril label of December 14, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do valsartan and quinapril differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, valsartan is an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker and quinapril an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.
Half-life, in each label's words: Valsartan, “Valsartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics following intravenous administration, with an average elimination …”; Quinapril, “Following multiple oral dosing of quinapril, there is an effective accumulation half-life of quinaprilat of …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: valsartan since 2014; quinapril since 2004 (Drugs@FDA).
| Valsartan | Quinapril | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart failure | High blood pressure, Heart failure |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II). | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Valsartan shows bi-exponential decay kinetics following intravenous administration, with an average elimination half-life of about 6 hours. | Following multiple oral dosing of quinapril, there is an effective accumulation half-life of quinaprilat of approximately 3 hours, and peak plasma quinaprilat concentrations are observed approximately 2 hours post-dose. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 23, 1996 | November 19, 1991 |
| First generic approved | June 26, 2014 | December 15, 2004 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 34 labelers | 9 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0963 per tablet (Valsartan 40 mg tablet) | n/a |
| 12-month price change | -21% | n/a |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 58 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 104,490 | 7,842 |
| 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 valsartan
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions