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ACE Inhibitors
ACE stands for Angiotensin Converting Enzyme. Angiotensin is a hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict, causing high blood pressure and a strain on the heart. ACE is an enzyme (a body chemical) that activates angiotensin. The goal of ACE inhibitors is to inhibit, or prevent, the ACE from activating the angiotensin. Use of ACE inhibitors results in dilated blood vessels and a lower blood pressure. They can also help prevent water retention.
Uses:
- treatment of high blood pressure
- treatment of heart failure
- prolonging survival of patients who have had a heart attack
- preventing deaths, heart attacks and strokes in patients with blood vessel disease and in diabetics with other risk factors related to the blood vessels
- prolonging survival of patients with weak heart muscle
- helping leaking heart valves
- preserving kidney function in diabetics
| Chemical name |
Brand names |
| benazepril |
(Lotensin, Lotensin HCT, Lotrel) |
| captopril |
(Captoten, Capozide) |
| enalapril |
(Vasotec, Vaseretic, Lexxel, Teczem) |
| fosinopril |
(Monopril) |
| lisinopril |
(Prinivil, Prinizide, Zestril, Zestoretic) |
| moexipril |
(Univasc, Uniretic) |
| perindopril |
(Aceon) |
| quinapril |
(Accupril) |
| ramipril |
(Altace) |
| trandolapril |
(Mavik, Tarka) |
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