Key takeaways
Enalapril (Vasotec) and Losartan (Cozaar) are both medications used to treat high blood pressure, but they belong to different drug classes. Enalapril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, while Losartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). Enalapril is also approved for treating heart failure, whereas Losartan can lower the risk of stroke in people with high blood pressure and a thickened heart, and it can slow down kidney problems in people with Type 2 diabetes. Enalapril is typically taken once or twice daily, while Losartan is usually taken once daily. One key difference is that Enalapril is more likely to cause a dry cough, a common side effect of ACE inhibitors, whereas Losartan is less likely to cause this issue. Both medications are not safe to use during pregnancy and can cause high potassium levels and kidney problems. Both Enalapril and Losartan are available as a lower-cost generic.
