Key takeaways
Enalapril (Vasotec) and Olmesartan (Benicar) are both medications used to treat high blood pressure, but they belong to different drug classes. Enalapril is an ACE inhibitor, while Olmesartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). Enalapril is also approved to treat heart failure, whereas Olmesartan is not FDA approved for this use. Enalapril is taken once or twice daily, while olmesartan is typically taken once a day. One notable side effect of enalapril is a dry cough, which is less common with olmesartan. Both medications can cause dizziness and high potassium levels, but olmesartan has a rare risk of severe diarrhea. Enalapril can be given to children as young as 1 month old, while olmesartan is only approved for children 6 years and older. Neither medication should be used during pregnancy.
