ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME-INHIBITOR THERAPY - PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PHARMACIST

The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors has increase d dramatically. In addition to controlling blood pressure in hypertens ive patients, ACE inhibitors avoid many of the problems associated wit h traditional anti-hypertensive therapy, such as effects on glucose co ntrol and alteration of serum lipid concentrations. The adverse reacti ons reported with the various ACE inhibitors in current use occur with a relatively low incidence compared to those with other classes of an tihypertensive drugs. Hyperkalemia may result when an ACE inhibitor is used with potassium-sparing or potassium-containing compounds, but fe w other drug interactions have been reported. ACE inhibitors as a clas s have been shown to control blood pressure effectively in a wide rang e of hypertensive patients and, with the exception of captopril, ACE i nhibitors can be administered once daily.