Pharmacy PEBC Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

ACE inhibitors, or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, are commonly used medications for conditions such as hypertension and heart failure. A well-documented side effect of this class of drugs is a persistent cough. This occurs due to the accumulation of bradykinin, a peptide that is normally broken down by ACE. When this enzyme is inhibited by ACE inhibitors, bradykinin levels increase, which can lead to irritation of the respiratory tract and the development of a dry, persistent cough.

This side effect is significant enough that if a patient experiences a troublesome cough while on an ACE inhibitor, healthcare providers may consider switching them to a different class of antihypertensive medications, such as angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), which do not cause this cough. While dizziness, dry mouth, and nausea can occur with various medications or medical conditions, they are not as classic or notable for ACE inhibitors as the persistent cough. Thus, the presence of a persistent cough serves as a specific and clinically relevant side effect associated with ACE inhibitor therapy.