First up, A is for ACE inhibitors and ARBs who act to lower the blood pressure. Only guys, not the heart rate. Big on the NCLEX. Our first choice is ACE inhibitors that end in pril, like lisinopril. So we call it a chill pril for the heart.
We're talking low blood pressure, not the heart rate. Or think prils puts the blood pressure low. So our second choice is ARBs, the angiotensin receptor blockers, which end in sartin like low sartin.
So think sartan like relaxed man or retirement plan. Lowers the blood pressure, not the heart rate. So a question for you, do we give prills and sartans if the heart rate is bradycardic or below 60? Well guys, yes.
ACE inhibitors and ARBs act to lower the blood pressure only, not the heart rate. So we only hold for low blood pressure. Now the mechanism of action is quite simple. Both ACEs and ARBs either inhibit or block the RAS system which retains fluid. Or in fancier terms, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
So aldosterone is blocked from adding that sodium water in and letting that potassium out. So again, the big problem here is retaining too much potassium. Huge side effect. Now speaking of side effects, we just keep it simple. So just think ACE like an ACE inhibitor.
A for avoid pregnant patients. These two are baby toxic. A for angioedema, swelling of the face and tongue resulting in a huge airway risk. Very deadly. But guys, this only happens with ACE inhibitors, so just think Prils puff up the tongue and not sartans.
Big NCLEX tip. Now C is for cough, but again, only Prils do that. And E is for elevated potassium. Not vitamin K, we're talking potassium over 5.0.
So think P in Prils