Question

Mr. Tinsley returns to the clinic 1 month later for reevaluation. His blood pressure is 140/72 and he is complaining of an irritating cough. The healthcare provider discontinued the ACE inhibitor and started on diltiazem (Cardizem).

a)Explain why only the ACE inhibitor was discontinued.

b)How does diltiazem treat hypertension?

c)Mr. Tinsley says that his BP is really not that high so why does he really need this medication. How should you respond?

Answer 1

a)Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor(ACE inhibitor) is a pharmaceutical drug used primarily for the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure.Here the Ace inhibitor is discontinued because the patients has shown the symptoms of the adverse effects caused by the drug which is nothing but cough.Adverse drug reaction causes cough to the patient and inflammation might occur,so it is discontinued.

b)Diltiazem is a nondihydropyridine calcium channel blocker used in the treatment of hypertension.It relaxes the smooth muscles in the walls of arteries,which opens and dilates the arteries,allows blood to flow more easily and lowers blood pressure.

c)It has been only one month and the systolic pressure of the patient is high for which normal is 120/80,this is the major reason to continue the drug as it might take some time to become normal and have a normal blood pressure.