ACE Inhibitors Lawyers and Information

ACE Inhibitors - Blood Pressure Drug

ACE Inhibitors are a class of prescription drugs available for those who need help with high blood pressure.  These drugs have been on the market for years, and although they showed early promise, serious problems are being detected in certain types of patients who have taken it, and the results have been dire.  Below you will find a basic outline of information surrounding the drugs. 

Specific Function

ACE Inhibitors carry the full medical name of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, and that name is important because of the chemical function these drugs serve.  Angiotensin I is a chemical in the body that results from liver function, and Angiotensin I can be harmful in that it causes the blood vessels to constrict, or become more narrow.  Narrow blood vessels increase blood pressure, and prolonged periods of high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks and strokes. 

ACE Inhibitors slow the activity of the angiotensin converting enzyme, thereby helping to prevent blood vessels from constricting.  This process results in lower blood pressure and thereby reduces the risk to the heart and overall circulatory functions. 

ACE Inhibitors Side Effects

There have been instances of side effects appearing in patients, and they range from relatively minor to extremely severe.  Common and minor side effects include a persistent cough, dizziness, the loss of the sense of taste and more serious effects such as a skin rash or swelling of the face and throat.  Overall, most of these side effects are not life-threatening, but there have been cases where severe side effects have appeared.

ACE Inhibitors and Pregnant Women

ACE Inhibitors are most dangerous in pregnant women.  Studies have shown for years that women in their second and third trimester should not take these drugs in order to prevent the risk of serious birth defects in their children.  More recent studies have shown that this increased risk is also present in women in their first trimester.  These birth defects generally cause irreparable damage to the heart and brain of the child, and many infants are lost in the womb as a result.

If you have suffered as a result of taking an ACE Inhibitor, you need to contact an attorney immediately to make sure that your rights are protected.