What is an ACE Inhibitor?
ACE inhibitors comprise a class of drugs that inhibit an enzyme responsible for constricting blood vessels. As a result, it widens the blood vessels, increasing the quantity of blood pumped and decreasing blood pressure. ACE stands for "angiotensin converting enzyme." Common ACE inhibitors include Capoten, Vasotec, Prinivil/Zestril, Lotensin, Monopril, Altace, Accupril, Aceon, Mavik, and Univasc. They are typically prescribed to regulate high blood pressure. They are also used after heart injuries and for heart attack prevention. A national survey indicated that 2.7 million women of childbearing age were prescribed an ACE inhibitor in 2002, and total prescriptions in 2005 reached 150 million.
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ACE Inhibitor Side Effects
Common side effects of ACE inhibitors include cough, skin rashes, dizziness and lightheadedness upon rising, and a salty taste in mouth. ACE inhibitors are also known to increase potassium levels in the blood, so patients are warned to avoid salt substitutes, which contain potassium, and advised to regularly check their potassium levels. Other serious side effects include severe diarrhea and vomiting.
ACE Inhibitors During Pregnancy; Black Box Warning
Women are advised by the FDA to speak to their doctors about taking ACE inhibitors during pregnancy. Previous studies indicate an increased risk of birth defects during second and third trimesters. Recent studies, however, indicate the risk may also be present during the first trimester. Mothers are advised against breastfeeding while taking ACE inhibitors, as the drug may also be present in breast milk. ACE inhibitors already carry a black box warning indicating that women should avoid taking them during second and third trimesters, citing kidney deformities.
ACE Inhibitor and Earlier Birth Defect Warning
Recently, the New England Journal of Medicine has reported that studies have indicated that ACE inhibitors may cause birth defects when taken by pregnant women in their first trimester (the first three months of pregnancy). ACE inhibitors are already associated with an increased risk of birth defects when used in the second and third trimester, but this study is the first to show a potential earlier risk. Early indications from two studies show that women who take ACE inhibitors during the first trimester of pregnancy may be approximately three times as likely to have a baby with a birth defect, when compared to mothers who were not on the medication. The most common deformities included nervous system and heart defects. According to the FDA, patients taking ACE inhibitors who are pregnant or intend to get pregnant should discuss the possible effects of them with their physicians. Dr. William O. Cooper, associate professor of pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Schools of medicine states "ACE inhibitors inhibit an enzyme [that] is present in the fetal heart, kidney and brain during the time the organs are formed. Interfering with that angiotensin enzyme function during the period of organ formation could interfere with the proper formation of organs."
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ACE Inhibitor Study Statistics
A study of ACE inhibitors involved 29,507 infants born between 1995 and 2000. Researchers partitioned the data into groups of 209 babies exposed during the first trimester only, 202 exposed to other blood-pressure medications during the first trimester only, and 29,096 babies with no exposure at all. They adjusted the data for other factors such as diabetes, a known antagonist for birth defects. Birth defects were found in 856 babies, 2.9%; 203 exhibited more than 1 defect. Eighteen babies with exposure during the first trimester, about 7%, were born with defects, more than twice the rate of the control group. The defects included heart defects, skeletal and muscular defects, gastrointestinal problems, and central nervous system defects.
Questions and Consultations
If you or a family member has used an ACE inhibitor and noticed adverse side effects, you should contact a physician immediately. If you would like to discuss your rights, are interested in more information on ACE inhibitor litigation, or if you have information about the cases that you would like to share with us, please click here to fill out a short evaluation form, and a member of Seeger Weiss LLP's experienced staff will call you to discuss your potential rights concerning ACE inhibitors. Attorney consultations incur no obligation on your part and all initial consultations are free of charge and do not create an attorney-client relationship. Seeger Weiss LLP has office locations in both New York and New Jersey and its attorneys practice in courts throughout the country.
Link To Lawyer Seek's ACE Inhibitors Content:
<a href='http://www.lawyerseek.com/Practice/Pharmaceutical-Injury-C1/ACE-Inhibitors-P136/'>ACE Inhibitors: Lawyer Seek</a> |
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