ACE Inhibitor Rap

Now before we stop this blood pressure lecture,
You must understand the difference
Between ARBs and ACE inhibitors,
Also the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Use this melody from the Beastie Boys:

Now here's a little story I got to tell
About three enzymes you don't know well.
Started way back in the kidney with renin,
Aldosterone & Angiotensin

Had a blood pressure that's way too high.
Doctor put me on a diet and exercise.
But Renin, Aldosterone, & Angie
One first-line drug we like to use
Is ACE inhibitors — now don't get confused.
They prevent angie I from converting
To angie II — thereby block aldosterone too.

Looking for a prill, I ran into Sartan,
His name is ARB, now let me help you understand...
Please allow me to introduce myself —
If I’m not an ACE inhibitor, I’m something else.
ARB is my class, It’s in my last name,
And I block angie II in a certain way.

I still help those patients with hypertension,
But not like ACE that stops conversion.
Angiotensin II — a very potent chemical —
Causes muscles to contract around the vessels.
Narrowing increases the blood pressure,
So I block angiotensin II at the site of reception.
Because hypertension's a risk factor,

Getting CAD and heart failure
The benefits of lowering your blood pressure.
Will help your renals and cardiovascular,
You’re watching this video and I hope you learn this
you think the story’s over, but it’s ready to begin...
Now aldosterone is a steroid hormone,
Blocked by the diuretics Spironolactone
Aldosterone made in the adrenal’s core,
Acts much like a bouncer at the nightclub door
Angie II says “Hey-o sodium I’m back”

In the distal tubules & collecting ducts
Spironolactone is potassium sparing
This generic diurectic is what we are wearing
It's not a tough decision as you can see.
You got the ACE or the ARB,
Or K+ Sparing Diuretic the volume deplete

Now here’s the precautions that you should know
Before you start making that BP low
When giving an ACE watch A-C-E
Angioedema is tongue swelling

A wicked cough and electrolyte depleting
Not so with Spironolactone
K+ Sparing Diuretic is what we all know
So keep that potassium intake on the low

To get all the lyrics to the funky fresh song
And maybe next time you can sing along

Antihypertensive Practice Questions & NCLEX Review
ACE Inhibitors vs Diuretics