Ace Inhibitors

Question 1

Indications

Answer 1

High Blood Pressure
diabetes r/t kidney symptoms
Heart failure

Question 2

action

Answer 2

increase in the sympathetic system, it increases the vasoconstriction, and increases the blood pressure. It also increases the sodium reabsorption, and also the water, while it increases the potassium excretion and so forth. So, when we block this ACE enzyme, nothing’s gonna convert from here. The Angiotensin I is not gonna be able to convert to Angiotensin II. So, we are breaking this chain from right here and that means, there’s no sympathetic activity, no sodium and water reabsorption is gonna happen and no vasoconstriction.

decrease sodium reabsorption, decreases water reabsorption, decreases blood volume and fluid overload… increases K reabsorption, & K level will increase.

When we block this enzyme it will decrease vasoconstriction the BP will decrease, the heart will be able to pump blood easier. decrease heart work load.

Question 3

Side Effects
Nursing Considerations
Contraindications

Answer 3

severe hypotension after first dose

• dizziness, pigheadedness, or faintness upon rising
• orthostatic hypotension (don’t rise suddenly)
• assess BP before first dose and monitor regularly there after to make sure their BP isn’t falling significantly

High Potassium Levels
-assess for symptoms of high potassium
confusion, numbness/tingling in hands and feet
cardiac arrhythmia or irregular heart beat
contraindicated with K sparing diuretics or salt substitutes

Question 4

Main side effects

Answer 4

dry cough -use of cough medications per doctors instructions or switch to ARBS if cough is too much

Salty or metallic taste (or s/t decrease ability to taste)

Angioedema- swelling around lips, eyes, throat, and other body regions

Neutropenia by captopril - monitor WBC

Monitor BUN & Creatinine - this med dec blood flow to kidneys

Question 5

contraindication

Answer 5

decreased renal functions
liver damage
bone marrow depression
immunosuppression medications
autoimmune disease

Question 6

How to identify drugs that are ACE inhibitors

& some of the ACE drugs

Answer 6

all drugs that end in -pril

ie: captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, quinapril, ramipril, benzapril