ANGIOTENSIN RECEPTOR BLOCKERS |
| CHEMICAL NAME | BRAND NAME(S) |
| CANDESARTAN | ATACAND, *ATACAND HCT |
| EPROSARTAN | TEVETEN |
| IRBESARTAN | *AVALIDE, AVAPRO |
| LOSARTAN | COZAAR, *HYZAAR |
| TASOSARTAN | VERDIA |
| TELMISARTAN | MICARDIS |
| VALSARTAN | DIOVAN, *DIOVAN HCT |
* in combination with a thiazide diuretic.
USES OF ANGIOTENSIN RECEPTOR BLOCKERS
TREATMENT OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
TREATMENT OF HEART FAILURE
Angiotensin is a hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict. This results in high blood pressure and a strain on the heart.
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) prevent angiotensin from binding to its receptor in the walls of the blood vessels. This results in a lower blood pressure. Even in people with normal blood pressure, blocking the activation of angiotensin is effective for treatment of heart failure. Note the similarity between how these work and how the ACE inhibitors work. Unlike the ACE inhibitors, angiotensin blockers do not cause a cough as a side effect. These are often substituted for ACE inhibitors when a cough develops in someone who is otherwise benefitting from the ACE inhibitor. They can however adversely affect kidney function and raise the potassium level just as ACE inhibitors do.
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