ACE+inhibitors

=ACE inhibitors=

How it works
Acts on your body to reduce constriction of your blood vessels, and prevents any increases in your blood volume - this prevents any increases in your blood pressure. //ACE inhibitors block conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II and also inhibit the breakdown of bradykinin. They reduce the effects of angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction, sodium retention and aldosterone release. They also reduce the effect of angiotensin on sympathetic nervous activity and as a growth factor.//

Questions to Ask
What medications? //potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplements//, //loop diuretics, NSAIDs, thiazide diuretics// - medical conditions? //renal impairment// - allergies? //ACEi or ATB - angioedema//

How to take
Take preferably before meals, in the morning Important to keep taking the medication everyday to ensure that it works properly

Side effects
- dry cough (typically dry, persistent and worse at night) //Occurs in 10-20% of people, more common in women. It tends to occur within months of starting treatment and resolves within a month of stopping treatment. Take care to exclude other causes of cough (such as upper respiratory tract infection, smoking-related disease or gastro-oesophageal reflux) to avoid withdrawing an ACE inhibitor unnecessarily.// - headache - dizziness rare: angioedema (stop treatment and seek urgent medical attention if they experience symptoms of: swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat)

Other advice?
- if you start to feel dizzy when getting out of bed or standing, get up slowly. This allows your body to get used to the change in blood pressure - It is also best in hot weather/exercise to keep up your fluid intake to reduce any 'dizzy spells'

CMI
[|Ramipril CMI] [|Perindopril CMI] [|Accupril CMI] [|AMH] [|High Blood Pressure - Self-care Card]