Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: are they all alike?

Although dissimilar in chemical structure and pharmacokinetics, the two available angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors captopril and enalapril have proved to be comparably effective in controlling essential and renal forms of hypertension in studies of once and twice daily dosing. Abundant data from controlled clinical trials and worldwide experience, particularly for captopril, indicate the safety and absence of subjective side effects when used alone in relatively low dosage or in combination with a diuretic.