Key takeaways
Eplerenone (Inspra) and lisinopril (Zestril) are both medications used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure, but they work in different ways and belong to different drug classes. Eplerenone is an aldosterone receptor antagonist that helps your body get rid of extra salt and water, while Llsinopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor that relaxes your blood vessels. Eplerenone is typically taken once daily and is available as a tablet, whereas lisinopril is also taken once daily and comes in both tablet and liquid forms. One key difference is that lisinopril is more likely to cause a dry cough, a common side effect of ACE inhibitors, while eplerenone can cause high potassium levels, especially if you have kidney problems. Additionally, lisinopril should not be used during pregnancy due to potential harm to the unborn baby, whereas the safety of eplerenone during pregnancy is not well established. Both medications require regular blood tests to monitor for side effects, but eplerenone specifically requires monitoring for high potassium levels.
