Lisinopril vs. Benazepril
See how Lisinopril and Benazepril compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Lisinopril and benazepril are both ACE inhibitors that relax blood vessels and share side effects like headache, dizziness, cough, and elevated potassium.
Lisinopril is also approved for heart failure and to improve survival after a heart attack, while benazepril's FDA approval covers hypertension only.
Both are once-daily oral tablets that typically start around 5 to 10 mg, with doses adjusted upward based on blood pressure response.
Lisinopril vs. Benazepril Drug Summary
Lisinopril
Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor that relaxes blood vessels to lower blood pressure and ease strain on the heart. It's FDA-approved for hypertension, heart failure, and to improve survival after a heart attack, and it's taken as a tablet once a day.
Benazepril
Benazepril is an ACE inhibitor that works the same way, relaxing blood vessels to bring blood pressure down. It's FDA-approved specifically for hypertension in adults and children, and it's also taken as a once-daily tablet.
Lisinopril vs. Benazepril Side Effects
Lisinopril
Benazepril
Lisinopril vs. Benazepril Dosage
Lisinopril
Benazepril
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 5 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | Up to 80 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | As tolerated |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 5 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 0.6 mg/kg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 6 increases | As tolerated |
Lisinopril
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 5 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | Up to 80 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | As tolerated |
Benazepril
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 5 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 0.6 mg/kg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 6 increases | As tolerated |
Lisinopril vs. Benazepril Indications
Lisinopril
Lisinopril is FDA-approved to treat high blood pressure in adults and children 6 years and older, to help manage heart failure, and to improve survival after a heart attack. Lowering blood pressure with lisinopril also reduces the risk of stroke over time.
Hypertension in adults and children 6 years and older
Heart failure, usually combined with other therapies
To improve survival after a heart attack (within 24 hours of onset)
Can be combined with a diuretic like hydrochlorothiazide for added control
Benazepril
Benazepril is FDA-approved only to treat high blood pressure, in adults and in children 6 years and older. It is not approved for heart failure or for use after a heart attack, unlike some other ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril.
Hypertension in adults
Hypertension in children 6 years and older
Often paired with a diuretic for added blood pressure control
Not approved for heart failure or post-heart-attack care
Lisinopril vs. Benazepril Pros and Cons
Lisinopril
Lisinopril's FDA approval extends beyond blood pressure control to heart failure and post-heart-attack care, broader than benazepril's. It is not a prodrug, so it works the same regardless of liver function, though it is cleared solely by the kidneys.
Pros
FDA-approved for heart failure and to improve survival after a heart attack, not just hypertension
Not a prodrug — it's active right away, so liver function doesn't affect how it works
One of the longest-used and most-studied ACE inhibitors, on the market since 1988
Widely available as a low-cost generic at nearly every pharmacy
Cons
Cleared entirely by the kidneys, so dose must be lowered in significant kidney impairment
Cough leading to stopping treatment is reported more often in Black patients than other groups
No specific weight-based pediatric dosing chart, just a flat dose range for ages 6 and up
Benazepril
Benazepril's FDA approval is limited to hypertension, and it requires liver conversion to become active since it is a prodrug. Its elimination through both the liver and kidneys can be an advantage for some patients with reduced kidney function.
Pros
Cleared through both the liver and kidneys, which can help some patients with reduced kidney function
Has established weight-based dosing for children, not just a flat pediatric dose
Low rate of treatment discontinuation specifically due to cough (about 0.5%)
FDA-approved option for hypertension since 1991, with decades of use
Cons
Only FDA-approved for hypertension, without heart failure or post-heart-attack indications
A prodrug that needs liver conversion to become active, which may matter with significant liver disease
Somnolence and postural dizziness are each reported in up to 2% of patients
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