cardiovascular disorders
Medications for Hypertension
ACE Inhibitors for Hypertension
 and by inhibiting the degradation of bradykinin, thereby decreasing peripheral vascular resistance without causing reflex tachycardia. These medications reduce BP in many hypertensive patients, regardless of plasma renin activity. Because these medications provide renal protection, they are the medications of choice for patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) . They are not recommended for initial treatment in patients with African ancestry, in whom they appear to increase the risk of stroke when used for initial treatment. A dry, irritating cough is the most common adverse effect, with estimates of up to 20% in North American and Europe populations and up to 40% in Asian populations ( ACE inhibitors references ). ACE inhibitors may increase serum potassium and creatinine levels, especially in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and those taking potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplements, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). ACE inhibitors are contraindicated during pregnancy. 30 mL/minute) and are given ACE inhibitors can usually tolerate up to a 30 to 35% increase in serum creatinine above baseline. ACE inhibitors can cause Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in patients who have hypovolemia, severe receptor blockers more than that of other classes of antihypertensives ( ACE inhibitors references ). 1.Israili ZH, Hall WD. Cough and angioneurotic edema associated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy. A review of the literature and pathophysiology.Ann Intern Med117(3):234-242, 1992. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-117-3-234 2.Woo KS, Nicholls MG. High prevalence of persistent cough with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in Chinese.Br J Clin Pharmacol40(2):141-144, 1995. 3.Townsend RR, Holland OB. Combination of converting enzyme inhibitor with diuretic for the treatment of hypertension.Arch Intern Med150(6):1175-1183, 1990. 4.Lacourcière Y, Poirier L, Lefebvre J, Ross SA, Leenen FH. Increasing the doses of both diuretics and angiotensin receptor blockers is beneficial in subjects with uncontrolled systolic hypertension.Can J Cardiol26(8):313-319, 2010. doi:10.1016/s0828-282x(10)70442-6 