ACE inhibitors are a class of drugs used for controlling blood pressure, heart failure, and preventing strokes. They are also used to prevent kidney damage in people with hypertension or diabetes. Because they prevent early death resulting from hypertension, heart failure and heart attacks, ACE inhibitors are one of the most widely used group of drugs.
But, ACE inhibitors may have side effects that range from non-serious (like a cough) to very serious. Though rare, the most serious ACE inhibitors side effects may be kidney failure, allergic reactions, a decrease in white blood cells, or swelling of tissues known as angioedema.
If a consumer develops angioedema, swelling can block a patient’s ability to breathe. When a person develops angioedema, their face, neck, and tounge can swell. In the best of circumstances, they are uncomfortable. In the worst cases, a person with angioedema can have their airway blocked and die. There are no medications to slow or reverse this swelling. To prevent suffocation of a person with angioedema, they may have to be intubated in an emergency room.
Information about angioedema is included the prescribing information of ACE inhibitor drugs. Some brands now boldface the danger of the potential side effect of an airway obstruction. But, currently there is not a black-box warning concerning angioedema and ACE inhibitors. Some experts would like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to add a black-box warning (the FDA’s strongest warning) to inform consumers of ACE inhibitors about angioedema.
It is clesr the ACE inhibitors are a beneficial class of drugs to hypertension sufferers. But, patients need to be aware of the dangers of the side effects. Robert Lin, an allergy specialist at New York Downtown Hospital, has determined that the incidence of angioedema is an increasing side effect of this class of drugs. Lin has determined that hospitalizations due to angioedema from ACE inhibitors and other heart drugs nearly doubled, from 3.4 to 5.4 per 100,000, during 2000 and 2009. African Americans were the highest percentage of admissions. The rate of African Americans who suffered from angioedema more than doubled, from 8.9 to 18 per 100,000.
The following is a list of ACE inhibitors that may be available in the United States: benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik).
If you took an ACE inhibitor and developed a serious side effect, or if you believe a loved one has died as a result from taking a prescription medication, call Longo Legal, PLLC toll free at 855-566-4648. We may be able to help.
Source: Marie McCullough; ACE inhibitor blood-pressure drugs can have a severe side effect; May. 1, 2012.
