Angiotensin-changing enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

These medications are usually approved to address significant blood force, heart problems and far more.

By Mayo Clinic Employees

Angiotensin-changing enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are prescription drugs that assistance unwind the veins and arteries to reduced blood force. ACE inhibitors avert an enzyme in the system from making angiotensin II, a substance that narrows blood vessels. This narrowing can result in significant blood force and forces the heart to function tougher. Angiotensin II also releases hormones that increase blood force.

Illustrations of ACE inhibitors

Many ACE inhibitors are available. The ideal 1 for you depends on lots of items, including your general wellness and present ailments. For case in point, people with long-term kidney disease may possibly gain from obtaining an ACE inhibitor as 1 of their prescription drugs.

Illustrations of ACE inhibitors contain:

  • Benazepril (Lotensin)
  • Captopril
  • Enalapril (Vasotec)
  • Fosinopril
  • Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
  • Moexipril
  • Perindopril
  • Quinapril (Accupril)
  • Ramipril (Altace)
  • Trandolapril

When ACE inhibitors are utilized

ACE inhibitors are utilized to avert, address or enhance signs in ailments such as:

  • Superior blood force (hypertension)
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Coronary heart failure
  • Diabetic issues
  • Certain long-term kidney diseases
  • Coronary heart assaults
  • A disease that includes hardening of the pores and skin and connective tissues (scleroderma)
  • Migraines

At times, an additional blood force medicine — such as a diuretic or calcium channel blocker — is approved with an ACE inhibitor. ACE inhibitors shouldn’t be taken with an angiotensin receptor blocker or with a direct renin inhibitor.

Aspect consequences

Aspect consequences of ACE inhibitors may possibly contain:

  • Dry cough
  • Amplified potassium concentrations in the blood (hyperkalemia)
  • Exhaustion
  • Dizziness from blood force going too low
  • Headaches
  • Reduction of flavor

Almost never, ACE inhibitors can result in some parts of the tissues to swell (angioedema). If swelling occurs in the throat, it can be existence-threatening.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, other folks) and naproxen sodium (Aleve), decrease the efficiency of ACE inhibitors. Getting an occasional dose of these prescription drugs shouldn’t have an affect on how an ACE inhibitor will work, but chat to your health practitioner if you consistently get NSAIDs.

Getting ACE inhibitors throughout pregnancy improves the possibility of start flaws in the baby. If you happen to be expecting or strategy to develop into expecting, chat to your health practitioner about other options to address significant blood force.