Angiotensin Blockers For High Blood Pressure

Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBS) are newer blood pressure drugs that protect your blood vessels from angiotensin II. As a result, the blood vessels relax and become wider, and your blood pressure goes down.

ARBs are also vasodilators and exhibit many of the same effects as ACE inhibitors. They are of particular value in treating patients with heart disease. ARBs do not have the undesireable sides effects of bradykinin and dry cough that ACE inhibitors exhibit. Side effects overall are very rare, but symptoms such as headache, dizziness, decreased libdo, stomach ache, and upper respiratory distress can occur.

Do not use angiostensin II antagonists if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, have hyperkalaemia (high blood levels of potassium), or bilateral renal artery stenosis (narrowing of the arteries supplying the kidneys, on both sides).