Angiotensin II Antagonists

Angiotensin II antagonists are a class of blood pressure drugs that lower blood pressure by interfering with the production of angiotensin II, an enzyme that causes blood vessels to narrow. The narrower blood vessels are, the higher the patient’s blood pressure tends to be; inhibiting this enzyme therefore helps lower blood pressure.

Warnings/Side Effects

This class of blood pressure drugs can be fatal to developing fetuses. Thus, women who are pregnant should not use them, and all other women should take monthly pregnancy tests. If a woman becomes pregnant, she should discontinue this blood pressure medication as soon as possible to avoid harm to her baby.

All patients taking this drug should seek immediate medical attention if they feel dizzy or lightheaded. These are symptoms of low blood pressure; the patient’s medication dosage may need to be adjusted in order to prevent complications.