Enalapril
Enalapril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, usually shortened to ACE inhibitor. It reduces signals that tighten blood vessels, helping blood flow more smoothly and reducing the work required of the heart. The catalogue contains enalapril alone and paired with a thiazide diuretic.
Key points
- Enalapril belongs to the ACE inhibitor class.
- Vasotec contains only enalapril.
- Vaseretic adds hydrochlorothiazide to enalapril.
- Pregnancy, angioedema and kidney function are central safety considerations.
Vasotec: the single-ingredient branch
Vasotec represents enalapril tablets in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg strengths. Its attached topics include hypertension, heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction.
The medicine is converted in the body to enalaprilat, the active ACE inhibitor. Suppressing the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system accounts for much of enalapril’s established effect in blood-pressure and heart-failure care.
Vaseretic: enalapril plus a diuretic
Vaseretic combines 10 mg enalapril with 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide. Hydrochlorothiazide increases salt and water excretion, so this record has a two-part identity that is not present in Vasotec. Both sit in the heart and blood pressure category.
Enalapril carries a fetal-toxicity warning. Its official information also covers angioedema, kidney-related monitoring and interactions involving other medicines that act on the renin-angiotensin system. These are ingredient-specific issues, not generic catalogue cautions.