ACE inhibitor drugs work by inhibiting the enzyme needed to produce the hormone angiotensin II. This hormone can narrow blood vessels and increase blood pressure, making the heart work harder.
Reducing the hormone angiotensin II by ACE inhibitors will lower blood pressure and lighten the work of the heart. These drugs can also help prevent or treat kidney damage by reducing pressure in the blood vessels of the kidneys.
ACE inhibitor drugs are also sometimes used to treat other conditions, such as coronary heart disease, heart attacks, scleroderma, and migraines.
High blood pressure is one of the chronic diseases that often occurs in society. To overcome high blood pressure, doctors can prescribe antihypertensive drugs. One of the commonly prescribed antihypertensive drugs is the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor class. How do ACE inhibitors work to help relieve high blood pressure? Let's see the review.
What is an Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor?
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or known as ACE inhibitors are drugs used to lower high blood pressure. This drug is usually used to treat cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, congestive heart failure, kidney problems, and others.
As the name suggests, this drug works by blocking the angiotensin-converting enzyme from converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Angiotensin is a hormone that functions to regulate blood pressure. There are four hormones in this hormone group, namely angiotensin I, angiotensin II, angiotensin III and angiotensin IV.
The liver is the organ that produces angiotensin. Initially, the liver produces a protein called angiotensinogen. Angiotensinogen is then broken down by an enzyme from the kidney called the renin enzyme. The result of this breakdown will form the enzyme angiotensin I.
The enzyme angiotensin I will enter the blood which then changes into angiotensin II. Angiotensin II then becomes a hormone that narrows blood vessels, causing blood pressure to increase and making the heart work harder. Not only that, angiotensin II can also trigger the release of other hormones that cause blood pressure to rise.
In addition to inhibiting the conversion of angiotensin I to the hormone angiotensin II, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) inhibitors will relax blood vessels so that blood pressure becomes lower.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Drugs
Some drugs that are included in the ACE inhibitor class include:
- Benazepril
- Captopril
- Enalapril
- Fosinopril
- Lisinopril
- Moexipril
- Perindopril
- Quinapril
- Ramipril
- Trandolapril
ACE inhibitor drugs are generally oral drugs. For enalapril, it is available in oral and intravenous drugs that can be inserted into the body through the blood vessels.
Usually ACE inhibitor drugs are given to young patients. Doctors will likely give other types of drugs to treat hypertension in the elderly group. In addition to ACE inhibitor drugs, doctors can also combine treatment with diuretics or calcium channel blockers.
What is the major side effect of ACE inhibitors?
Although ACE inhibitor drugs are safe to use and effective in lowering blood pressure, these drugs also have side effects. The following are some side effects that can occur if your doctor prescribes you ACE inhibitor drugs:
1. Dry cough
This side effect is the most common side effect experienced after taking ACE inhibitors. In some patients, these symptoms can come and go. Consult a doctor if the side effects that appear interfere with your activities.
2. Dizziness
Dizziness is a side effect that is often experienced by patients when they first take these drugs. This condition can be caused by the side effects of ACE inhibitor drugs that lower blood pressure. Generally, this condition will improve when the body has adapted to the drugs. If the dizziness gets worse, you should consult a doctor.
3. Kidney problems
ACE inhibitor drugs are drugs that can also be given for kidney problems. Usually this drug will be given to hypertensive patients who have chronic kidney disease.
However, in certain conditions, ACE inhibitor drugs can also cause kidney damage. This condition is usually experienced by patients who previously had kidney problems. For this reason, before prescribing angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor drugs, doctors will generally perform kidney function tests and monitor the patient's condition after using the drug for a certain period of time.
5. Angioedema
Angioedema is the appearance of lumps or swelling due to fluid accumulation. This swelling generally appears in several parts of the body, especially the face, neck and lips, even the throat (larynx) which can be life-threatening. This condition can be experienced by patients at any time, including when the patient has taken this medication before and has not developed any symptoms.
What to check before giving ACE inhibitors?
ACE inhibitors should only be used with a doctor's prescription. Follow the doctor's advice and suggestions when undergoing treatment with ACE inhibitors. Before taking this medicine, you need to pay attention to the following:
- Do not use ACE inhibitors if you have allergies to drugs in this class. Tell your doctor about your history of allergies.
- Tell your doctor if you are already taking angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) hypertension drugs. These two drugs should not be used together.
- Consult your doctor if you are going to take ACE inhibitors and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) together for a long time, because NSAIDs can reduce the effectiveness of ACE inhibitors.
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of angioedema, especially if there are symptoms of shortness of breath or severe abdominal pain.
- Tell your doctor if you suffer from low blood pressure (hypotension), gout, or are undergoing regular dialysis.
- Do not stop treatment suddenly without first consulting your doctor.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
- Use contraception to prevent pregnancy while using ACE inhibitors. If you become pregnant while taking an ACE inhibitor, stop taking the drug immediately and consult your doctor.
- Follow the check-up schedule prescribed by your doctor while taking an ACE inhibitor, because regular blood tests may be needed to monitor your condition.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking other blood pressure lowering drugs or are taking herbal medicines, vitamins, or other supplements, to avoid drug interactions.
- If you experience an allergic reaction to the drug or an overdose after taking an ACE inhibitor, see your doctor immediately.
What medications interact with ACE inhibitors?
ACE inhibitors may interact with other medicines such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antacids, potassium supplements, certain diuretics, and lithium. If you are taking one of these medicines, talk with your doctor before you take an ACE inhibitor.
If your doctor prescribes ACE inhibitors, you need to inform them about other medications you usually take. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors affect the blood circulation system, so they also affect other medications that are often consumed.
Some medications that should not be taken with ACE inhibitors because they can reduce their effectiveness include pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Therefore, if you usually take these medications, you should inform your doctor so that the administration of ACE inhibitors remains optimal and safe
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are one of the drugs that are often given to patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension. Although this drug is safe and effective to consume, it can cause side effects. Consult a doctor immediately if you experience side effects that interfere with your daily activities.
