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

Angiotensin II receptor antagonists, often referred to as ARBs, are specifically designed to block the effects of angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor that contributes to increased blood pressure and fluid retention. By inhibiting the action of angiotensin II at its receptors, ARBs promote vasodilation and decrease the secretion of aldosterone, leading to reduced blood volume. This dual action makes them particularly effective in managing hypertension and heart failure.

In heart failure, the blockade of angiotensin II helps to reduce the workload on the heart and improves cardiac output by preventing the adverse remodeling of cardiac tissue. Similarly, in hypertension, these medications effectively lower blood pressure without the common side effects associated with some other antihypertensive classes. This selective mechanism highlights the important role ARBs play in cardiovascular therapy.

Other drug classes, like beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and thiazide diuretics, serve different functions in the management of hypertension and heart failure, focusing on mechanisms like heart rate reduction, vascular relaxation, or fluid balance, respectively, but do not directly block angiotensin II receptors. Therefore, ARBs are the most appropriate choice for the specific action of blocking angiotensin II receptors in treating hypertension and