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- Herbal supplements may not mix with heart medicines
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- Enlarged heart
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Symptoms (1)
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Tests and diagnosis (3)
- Blood pressure chart: What your reading means
- Microalbumin test
- Blood pressure test
Treatments and drugs (9)
- Beta blockers
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
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continued:
Angiotensin II receptor blockers
Uses for angiotensin II receptor blockers
Doctors prescribe these drugs to prevent, treat or improve symptoms in a variety of conditions, such as:
- High blood pressure
- Heart failure
- Kidney failure in diabetes
- Chronic kidney diseases
- Hardening and thickening of the skin (scleroderma)
Side effects and cautions
Few people have side effects when taking angiotensin II receptor blockers, but possible side effects may include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Nasal congestion
- Back and leg pain
- Diarrhea
Rare but more-serious side effects include:
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
- Allergic reaction
- A drop in white blood cells
- Localized swelling of tissues (angioedema)
Because angiotensin II receptor blockers can cause birth defects, don't take them if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
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References
- Flynn JT. Treatment of high blood pressure: Drug therapy. In: Kaplan NM, et al. Kaplan's Clinical Hypertension. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2010:192.
- Types of blood pressure medications. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/PreventionTreatmentofHighBloodPressure/Types-of-Blood-Pressure-Medications_UCM_303247_Article.jsp. Accessed Sept. 30, 2010.
- High blood pressure: Medicines to help you. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/byaudience/forwomen/ucm118594.htm. Accessed Sept. 30, 2010.
- Kaplan NM, et al. Indications and contraindications to the use of specific antihypertensive drugs. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 30, 2010.
- Chobanian AV, et al. The seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. New England Journal of Medicine. 2003;289:2560.
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