Key takeaways
Enalapril (Vasotec) and Valsartan (Diovan) are both used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure, but they belong to different medication classes. Enalapril is an ACE inhibitor, while Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). One key difference is that Enalapril can cause a dry cough, a common side effect of ACE inhibitors, whereas Valsartan is less likely to cause this issue. Valsartan is also approved to lower the risk of death after a heart attack, which is not an approved use for Enalapril. Both medications are available in generic forms and can be taken by children, but the age range differs slightly. Enalapril can be given to children as young as 1 month old, while Valsartan is for children aged 1 year and older. Additionally, both medications can cause high potassium levels and kidney problems, but they work in different ways to lower blood pressure.
