ACE Inhibitors are medicines that relax blood vessels and promote the free flow of blood. Thus, it helps to lower blood pressure. ACE stands for angiotensin-converting enzyme. 

How do ACE Inhibitors work?

 ACE inhibitors prevent the production of angiotensin II, a hormone responsible for blood vessel narrowing. Thus it helps in relaxing blood vessels and lower elevated blood pressure. 

How is the effect achieved?

Angiotensin II causes the muscles to contract (surrounding blood vessels), thereby narrowing the vessels. The narrowing further leads to an increase in the pressure within the vessels, causing hypertension.

Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in the blood by the enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). ACE Inhibitors slow the activity of the enzyme ACE. 

Which are the medicines under ACE Inhibitors?

keyword- medicines with ‘pril’ in their names. 

• Captopril
• Enalapril
• Lisinopril
• Preindopril
• Fosinopril
• Ramipril
• Quinapril
• Trandolapril
• Imidapril
• Benazepril

Indications: When are ACE Inhibitors prescribed?

• Hypertension; a condition where blood pressure is above 140/90.
• Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic progressive condition that affects the pumping power of your heart muscle.
• Coronary artery disease
• Myocardial Infarction means damage to the heart muscle due to limited or restricted blood flow to a part of the heart.
• The High cardiovascular risk or cardiac events.
• Diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage that results from having diabetes)
• Chronic kidney disease. 

Side Effects:

ACE Inhibitors are safe and commonly prescribed by the doctors. However, sometimes, a patient may have following side effects.

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea/bowel upset
• Cough
• Rashes
• Urticaria
• Hypotension
• Hyperkalaemia 
• Proteinuria

Commonly available medicines