Key takeaways
- Doctors prescribe ARBs to treat conditions like high blood pressure, heart failure, and kidney disease. They work by relaxing blood vessels and reducing pressure.
- ARBs can cause side effects such as fatigue, dizziness, or headaches, and they may interact with other medications like ACE inhibitors and certain pain relievers.
- It is essential to inform your doctor about all medications, herbs, and supplements you are taking and to discuss any concerns about ARBs, especially during pregnancy, due to potential risks to the developing fetus.
ARBs come as oral tablets, typically taken once daily. They may cause side effects such as fatigue, dizziness, or headaches.
Ask your doctor whether these medications may be right for you.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Off-label uses
In some cases, doctors may prescribe ARBs off-label for certain conditions, meaning the medications haven’t been approved by the FDA to treat those conditions.
Conditions that may benefit from off-label ARB treatment include:
ARBs work by
As they tighten, your blood vessels narrow, putting more pressure on your blood as it moves through them. By blocking the receptors that angiotensin II binds to, ARBs prevent your blood vessels from tightening, resulting in lower blood pressure.
Angiotensin II can also increase your body’s salt and water retention, which can raise your blood pressure. ARBs also work against this by preventing angiotensin II from binding to its receptors.
Vs. ACE inhibitors
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are another common type of blood pressure medication. Unlike ARBs, ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure by keeping the body from producing angiotensin II.
Your doctor may prescribe ARBs if ACE inhibitors don’t work as well for you or cause adverse side effects.
The following table lists some common examples of ARBs and their brand names.
| Medication | Brand name |
|---|---|
| azilsartan | Edarbi |
| candesartan | Atacand |
| irbesartan | Avapro |
| losartan potassium | Cozaar |
| olmesartan | Benicar |
| telmisartan | Micardis |
| valsartan | Diovan |
ARBs may sometimes be combined with other medications like hydrochlorothiazide, which is a diuretic that causes you to urinate more often. Combination ARBs include medications such as hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan (Diovan HCT) and hydrochlorothiazide-losartan (Hyzaar).
For people with high blood pressure, doctors may prescribe a lower dose that needs to be taken
People with other conditions, such as heart failure, may need to take an ARB twice per day.
Your doctor can help you understand how and when to take ARBs for your specific condition.
People taking ARBs may experience various side effects, including:
- fatigue
- dizziness
- headache
- fainting
- breathing difficulties
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- back pain
- leg swelling
- high potassium levels
In rare cases, some people taking an ARB may also have:
Certain medications may interact with ARBs, meaning they may change how effective ARBs are or cause concerning side effects. For example, you shouldn’t take ARBs and ACE inhibitors at the same time. Doing so
Taking pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) at the same time as ARBs and diuretics
Tell your doctor about any over-the-counter or prescription medications you’re taking. Also, tell them about any supplements or herbs you’re taking, as these can sometimes interact with medications as well.
The FDA has given ARBs a boxed warning, which is the agency’s most serious warning, about using the medications during pregnancy.
People who are pregnant should not take ARBs. Taking ARBs during pregnancy
Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. You may need to take regular pregnancy tests and discontinue the medication immediately if you become pregnant.
People with diabetes who are taking aliskiren (Tekturna), another medication that treats high blood pressure,
A
More recent research into the relationship between ARBs and cancer risk has had mixed results.
For example, a
The potential links between ARBs and cancer risk require more study. If you’re concerned about the risk, talk with your doctor about potential alternatives to ARBs.
ARBs can help manage conditions like high blood pressure and heart failure. Doctors may also prescribe them for people who have experienced a heart attack or have diabetic nephropathy.
Talk with your doctor about whether ARBs may be appropriate for you. Be sure to tell them about any underlying conditions you have or if you’re taking any other medications, herbs, or supplements.