Captopril
ATI-format individual drug card with NCLEX-focused assessment, safety, teaching, and source attribution.
Captopril
ATI class: ACE inhibitor
Action
- Blocks conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, reducing vasoconstriction and aldosterone effect.
Therapeutic use
- Hypertension
- Heart failure
- Post-MI support
- Kidney protection in selected clients
Nursing assessment
- Monitor blood pressure, potassium, creatinine, cough, pregnancy status, and angioedema symptoms.
Administration
- Verify route against the order and source table.
Side effects
- Dry cough
- Dizziness
- Taste change
Adverse effects
- Angioedema
- Hyperkalemia
- Hypotension
- Kidney function decline
- Neutropenia in rare cases
Interactions
- Potassium supplements
- Salt substitutes
- Potassium-sparing diuretics
- NSAIDs
- Lithium
Contraindications
- Pregnancy
- History of ACE inhibitor angioedema
Precautions
- Use caution with kidney disease, volume depletion, and renal artery stenosis.
Client teaching
- Report swelling of face, lips, or tongue immediately.
- Do not use in pregnancy.
- Avoid potassium salt substitutes unless approved.
Medication outcomes
- Therapeutic response with no priority adverse effects.
Antidote / rescue
- No specific antidote is seeded; hold/question unsafe doses and manage toxicity per provider, facility, or poison-control guidance.
NCLEX priority cues
- Angioedema beats routine BP teaching.
- ACE cough is expected but airway swelling is not.
- High potassium is testable.
Medication classes
Source attribution
Related study cards
Shows the medication class, ATI cues, source references, and connected study cards for this drug.
Reduces angiotensin effect so vessels relax and aldosterone-driven sodium and water retention decreases.
ATI medication nclex priority cue concept.
ATI medication class concept.
ATI medication adverse effect concept.
ATI medication nclex priority cue concept.
ATI medication client teaching concept.
ATI medication mechanism of action concept.
ATI medication side effect concept.
ATI medication client teaching concept.
ATI medication side effect concept.
ATI medication therapeutic use concept.
ATI medication nclex priority cue concept.