Drug guide

ACE Inhibitors: Brand and Generic Names

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, usually shortened to ACE inhibitors, have one of the most useful generic-name patterns: -pril. Learn that class cue alongside the brand pairs, then add combination products as a separate group.

ACE inhibitor brand and generic names

This ACE inhibitors list starts with single-ingredient examples and then introduces two combinations. In the combination rows, both ingredients belong in your answer.

Single-ingredient examples

Single-ingredient examples
Brand nameGeneric nameClass or type
LotensinbenazeprilACE inhibitors
VasotecenalaprilACE inhibitors
Prinivil / ZestrillisinoprilACE inhibitors
AltaceramiprilACE inhibitors

Combinations containing an ACE inhibitor

Combinations containing an ACE inhibitor
Brand nameGeneric nameClass or type
Zestoretichydrochlorothiazide, lisinoprilACE inhibitor / thiazide
Lotrelamlodipine, benazeprilACE inhibitor / CCB

CCB means calcium channel blocker. The class label for Lotrel reflects amlodipine plus the ACE inhibitor benazepril.

Understanding ACE inhibitors

ACE stands for angiotensin-converting enzyme. Benazepril, enalapril, lisinopril, and ramipril are members of this family. When learning the names, use the shared -pril ending to organize the group before practicing its individual brand associations.

Prinivil and Zestril both pair with lisinopril. That makes lisinopril a useful example of one generic with more than one recognizable brand. A correct brand-to-generic response does not automatically mean you can recall every brand in the reverse direction.

Combination brands need another step. Zestoretic contains lisinopril with hydrochlorothiazide, a thiazide diuretic. Lotrel contains benazepril with amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker. Recognizing the -pril ingredient is useful, but it is only half of the combination.

Naming patterns and memory tips

Look for the entire -pril ending: benazepril, enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril. Then practice the brands without the generic column visible. The suffix supplies the family; it does not supply Lotensin, Vasotec, Prinivil, Zestril, or Altace.

Contrast -pril with -sartan. Losartan and valsartan belong to the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) family, not the ACE inhibitor family. Keeping the two endings side by side is more useful than placing every cardiovascular name in one undifferentiated list.

  1. Learn the single ingredientStart with Lotensin—benazepril and identify the -pril ending.
  2. Add the combinationLearn Lotrel—amlodipine and benazepril, including both ingredients.
  3. Check the contrastGiven Lotensin and Lotrel in a mixed set, recall which contains an additional ingredient and name it.

Commonly confused ACE inhibitor names

Zestril and Zestoretic

Zestril is a lisinopril brand. Zestoretic combines lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide. Their shared beginning can help connect them, but the different ending is your cue to recall the second ingredient.

Lotensin and Lotrel

Lotensin pairs with benazepril alone. Lotrel adds amlodipine. Study them together once, then separate them in a shuffled practice set so each full brand name has its own answer.

Lisinopril and losartan

The opening letters look similar, but the endings point to different families: lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor; losartan is an ARB. Read through the end of the word before assigning the class.

Between study sessions

Keep the names in view.

RxRecall rotates brand names, generic names, and drug classes on your iPhone Lock Screen. Tap a drug to take a closer look, then mark what you know.

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