ACE inhibitors: the complete list, ranked by safety record
All 9 ace inhibitors we track, ranked by our independent FDA recall-safety score. Unlike a plain list, every drug here carries its safety record, what it treats, whether a generic exists, and how long it stays in your body.
ACE inhibitors are blood-pressure medications. Doctors prescribe them for high blood pressure and heart failure, and to protect the heart and kidneys in people with related conditions.
How they work: They block the angiotensin-converting enzyme, which normally turns angiotensin I into angiotensin II — a chemical that tightens blood vessels. With less angiotensin II, vessels relax and widen, so blood flows more easily and pressure drops.
What everyone taking one should know
Three risks run across the whole class: a dry, persistent cough (in roughly 1 to 10 percent of users, with no treatment other than reconsidering the drug); angioedema — sudden, serious swelling of the face, tongue, or throat that can block the airway; and fetal harm, since these drugs can injure or kill a developing baby and are not used in pregnancy. Swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing is a medical emergency.
| Drug | Safety | Generic? | Treats |
|---|---|---|---|
| enalapril maleateboxed warning | 72/100 | Brand only | Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bartter Syndrome |
| fosinopril sodiumboxed warning | 72/100 | Brand only | Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure |
| lisinoprilboxed warning Half-life: about 12 hours | 72/100 | Yes | Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure |
| benazepril hydrochlorideboxed warning | 70/100 | Brand only | Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure |
| trandolaprilboxed warning | 70/100 | Brand only | Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure |
| captoprilboxed warning | unrated | Yes | Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bartter Syndrome |
| perindopril erbumineboxed warning | unrated | Brand only | Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure |
| quinapril hydrochlorideboxed warning | unrated | Brand only | Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure |
| ramiprilboxed warning | unrated | Brand only | Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure |
Ranked by our independent recall-safety score (higher is better), which reflects the FDA recall and enforcement record — not effectiveness. A higher score is not medical advice to switch; which drug is right for you is a prescriber’s decision. 4 are unrated (too little regulatory history to score) and sort last.
Sources
Other drug classes: NSAIDs · Statins · Benzodiazepines · Opioids · Beta blockers · SSRIs · SNRIs · ARBs · Proton pump inhibitors · Calcium channel blockers · Macrolide antibiotics.
The list is built from the FDA’s Established Pharmacologic Class tags, so it reflects the drugs in this class that we track (one row per active ingredient). Safety scores come from the FDA recall and enforcement record. This is general reference information, not medical advice — do not start, stop or switch a medication based on it; talk to your prescriber or pharmacist.