ACE Inhibitors
Unknown / Multiple | ACE Inhibitors (Medication)
Desc:
ACE inhibitors are effective for control of blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and prevention of stroke and hypertension, or diabetes-related kidney damage. ACE inhibitors are especially important because they have been shown to prevent early death resulting from hypertension, heart failure or heart attacks; in studies of patients with hypertension, heart failure, or prior heart attacks, patients who received an ACE inhibitor survived longer than patients who did not receive an ACE inhibitor. ACE inhibitors may be combined with other drugs to achieve optimal blood pressure control. ...
Side Effect:
ACE inhibitors usually are not prescribed for pregnant patients because they may cause birth defects.
Individuals with bilateral renal artery stenosis (narrowing) may experience worsening of kidney function, and people who have had a severe reaction to ACE inhibitors probably should avoid them.
The most common side effects are:cough, elevated blood potassium levels, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, weakness, abnormal taste (metallic or salty taste), and rash.
It may take up to a month for coughing to subside, and if one ACE inhibitor causes cough it is likely that the others will too. The most serious, but rare, side effects of ACE inhibitors are kidney failure, allergic reactions, a decrease in white blood cells, and swelling of tissues (angioedema). ...
Precaution:
The ACE inhibitors are contraindicated in patients with:previous angioedema associated with ACE inhibitor therapy, renal artery stenosis (bilateral, or unilateral with a solitary functioning kidney), hypersensitivity to ACE inhibitors.
ACE inhibitors should be used with caution in patients with:impaired renal function, aortic valve stenosis or cardiac outflow obstruction, hypovolemia or dehydration, hemodialysis with high-flux polyacrylonitrile membranes.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended to use this medicine without your doctor's advice. ...