ACE inhibitors / ARBs

Medication class detail with safety cues and nursing action focus.

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CardiacRenal / Urinary / Electrolytesneeds review

ACE inhibitors / ARBs

Examples: lisinopril, enalapril, losartan, valsartan

Mechanism

Reduces angiotensin effect so vessels relax and aldosterone-driven sodium and water retention decreases.

Used for

  • Hypertension
  • Heart failure
  • Kidney protection in selected diabetes care

Side effects

  • Hypotension
  • Hyperkalemia
  • Angioedema
  • Dry cough with ACE inhibitors

Nursing actions

  • Monitor blood pressure, potassium, and renal function.
  • Teach to report swelling of lips, tongue, or face immediately.
  • Avoid potassium salt substitutes unless approved.

Hold / question cues

  • Angioedema
  • Pregnancy
  • High potassium
  • Acute kidney function decline

Antidote / reversal

  • No routine class-specific antidote or reversal agent is seeded for this class; hold/question unsafe doses, support ABCs, notify the provider, and use facility or poison-control guidance for toxicity.

NCLEX pearl

  • ACE cough, ARB alternative; both can raise K.