The nurse is caring for a patient who experienced persistent dry cough caused by an ACE Inhibitor, and which has been discontinued. The nurse anticipates that the provider will most likely prescribe a drug from which class of medications to treat the patient's hypertension?

Explanation

• ACE inhibitors are often not tolerated due to the side effect of dry cough that many patients experience.

• Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) like losartan (Cozaar) provide a similar mechanism of action to ACE Inhibitors, but without the side effect of dry cough. Losartan is used to treat hypertension and to reduce the risk of MI or stroke in patients who cannot tolerate ACE Inhibitors.

• Calcium channel blockers and thiazide diuretics are often prescribed for hypertension, but ARBs like losartan are the drug used to replace ACE Inhibitors when the patient suffers from persistent dry cough.

• Beta blockers and loop diuretics have different mechanisms of action from ACE inhibitors, and are not the first choice for replacing ACE inhibitors that are not tolerated due to a cough. 

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