Key takeaways
Trandolapril (generic, formerly branded as Mavik) and Olmesartan (generic, branded as Benicar) are both medications used to treat high blood pressure, but they belong to different drug classes. Trandolapril is an ACE inhibitor, which works by blocking a hormone called angiotensin II to relax blood vessels. Olmesartan, on the other hand, is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) that also relaxes blood vessels but does so by blocking the action of angiotensin II at its receptor directly on the blood vessels. Trandolapril is also approved to lower the risk of death and hospitalization in people with heart failure after a heart attack, while Olmesartan is not approved for this use but may be prescribed off-label for this purpose. Trandolapril is known to cause a dry cough in some people, a side effect less common with Olmesartan. Both medications can cause dizziness and high potassium levels, but Olmesartan can also lead to severe diarrhea in rare cases. Both are available as lower-cost generics and are taken once daily.
