I’ve heard the term ARBs when talking about medicine for CHF. What are ARBs?
ARB stands for angiotensin receptor blocker. It is a drug, like the ACE inhibitors (see the previous question), that blocks the effects of angiotensin on the body. In other words, ARBs reduce blood pressure by dilating blood vessels, decrease the body’s ability to absorb salt and water by preventing the excretion of aldosterone, and decrease dilation of the heart muscle after heart attacks.
Patients who are unable to take ACE inhibitors because of a severe cough should be considered for treatment with ARBs. Unlike ACE inhibitors, ARBs do not cause coughing, are well tolerated by patients, and cause no known class-specific side effects. Currently, national consensus guidelines recommend that ARBs should be reserved for hypertensive patients who cannot tolerate ACE inhibitors (ACEIs). ARBs, however, are moving to the forefront of therapy with a promising role in the area of CHF treatment.
In fact, a study called the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial, published in 2001, adds to the growing body of evidence that ARBs may decrease symptoms of short-ness of breath and swelling as well as reducing the mortality rate in CHF patients. Some examples of ARBs:
Generic Name Brand Name
candesartan Cilexetil
eprosartan Teveten
irbesartan Avapro
losartan Cozaar
valsartan Diovan