Angiotensin II receptor blockers

Angiotensin II receptor blockers treat high blood pressure. Find out when your doctor may prescribe them.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Angiotensin II receptor blockers help relax your veins and arteries to lower your blood pressure and make it easier for your heart to pump blood.

Angiotensin is a chemical in your body that narrows your blood vessels. This narrowing can increase your blood pressure and force your heart to work harder.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers block the action of angiotensin II. As a result, the medication allows your veins and arteries to widen (dilate).

Examples of angiotensin II receptor blockers

Several angiotensin II receptor blockers are available. Which one is best for you depends on your health and the condition being treated.

Examples of angiotensin II receptor blockers include:

  • Azilsartan (Edarbi)
  • Candesartan (Atacand)
  • Eprosartan
  • Irbesartan (Avapro)
  • Losartan (Cozaar)
  • Olmesartan (Benicar)
  • Telmisartan (Micardis)
  • Valsartan (Diovan)

When angiotensin II receptor blockers are used

In addition to treating high blood pressure, angiotensin II receptor blockers may prevent, treat or improve symptoms in people who have:

  • Chronic kidney diseases
  • Heart failure
  • Kidney failure in diabetes

Side effects

Few people have side effects when taking angiotensin II receptor blockers. Possible side effects can include:

  • Dizziness
  • Higher than normal potassium levels in the blood (hyperkalemia)
  • Swelling of the skin due to a buildup of fluid (angioedema)

Some people taking the angiotensin II receptor blocker olmesartan have reported intestinal problems. Talk to your doctor if you develop severe diarrhea or lose a lot of weight while taking this medication.

Don't take angiotensin II receptor blockers if you're pregnant or plan to become pregnant because the drugs can harm a developing fetus.

Aug. 16, 2019 See more In-depth

See also

  1. Medication-free hypertension control
  2. 6 surprising signs you may have obstructive sleep apnea
  3. After a flood, are food and medicines safe to use?
  4. Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure?
  5. Alpha blockers
  6. Amputation and diabetes
  7. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
  8. Antiphospholipid syndrome
  9. Anxiety: A cause of high blood pressure?
  10. Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis
  11. Artificial sweeteners: Any effect on blood sugar?
  12. AskMayoMom Pediatric Urology
  13. Beta blockers
  14. Beta blockers: Do they cause weight gain?
  15. Beta blockers: How do they affect exercise?
  16. Birth control pill FAQ
  17. Blood glucose meters
  18. Blood glucose monitors
  19. Blood pressure: Can it be higher in one arm?
  20. Blood pressure chart
  21. Blood pressure cuff: Does size matter?
  22. Blood pressure: Does it have a daily pattern?
  23. Blood pressure: Is it affected by cold weather?
  24. Blood pressure medication: Still necessary if I lose weight?
  25. Blood pressure medications: Can they raise my triglycerides?
  26. Blood pressure readings: Why higher at home?
  27. Blood pressure test
  28. Blood pressure tip: Get more potassium
  29. Blood pressure tip: Get off the couch
  30. Blood pressure tip: Know alcohol limits
  31. Blood pressure tip: Stress out no more
  32. Blood pressure tip: Watch the caffeine
  33. Blood pressure tip: Watch your weight
  34. Blood sugar levels can fluctuate for many reasons
  35. Blood sugar testing: Why, when and how
  36. Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes
  37. How kidneys work
  38. Build resilience to better handle diabetes
  39. Bump on the head: When is it a serious head injury?
  40. Caffeine and hypertension
  41. Calcium channel blockers
  42. Calcium supplements: Do they interfere with blood pressure drugs?
  43. Can low vitamin D cause high blood pressure?
  44. Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure?
  45. Caring for a loved one with diabetes
  46. Central-acting agents
  47. Choosing blood pressure medications
  48. Chronic daily headaches
  49. Chronic kidney disease
  50. Coarctation of the aorta
  51. COVID-19 and high blood pressure
  52. COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?
  53. Cushing syndrome
  54. DASH diet
  55. DASH diet
  56. DASH recommended servings
  57. DASH diet tips
  58. Diabetes
  59. Diabetes and dental care
  60. Diabetes and depression: Coping with the two conditions
  61. Diabetes and exercise: When to monitor your blood sugar
  62. Diabetes and fasting: Can I fast during Ramadan?
  63. Diabetes and foot care
  64. Diabetes and Heat
  65. Diabetes and menopause
  66. Diabetes and summer: How to beat the heat
  67. Diabetes and travel: Planning is key
  68. Diabetes and electric blankets
  69. 10 ways to avoid diabetes complications
  70. Diabetes diet: Should I avoid sweet fruits?
  71. Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan
  72. Diabetes foods: Can I substitute honey for sugar?
  73. Diabetes and liver
  74. Diabetes management: Does aspirin therapy prevent heart problems?
  75. Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar
  76. Diabetes: Eating out
  77. Diabetes nutrition: Sweets
  78. Diabetes symptoms
  79. Diabetes treatment: Can cinnamon lower blood sugar?
  80. Using insulin
  81. Diuretics
  82. Diuretics: A cause of low potassium?
  83. Diuretics: Cause of gout?
  84. Dizziness
  85. Do infrared saunas have any health benefits?
  86. Do you know your blood pressure?
  87. Does obstructive sleep apnea increase my risk for Alzheimer's disease?
  88. Drug addiction (substance use disorder)
  89. High blood pressure and exercise
  90. Fibromuscular dysplasia
  91. Free blood pressure machines: Are they accurate?
  92. Home blood pressure monitoring
  93. Glomerulonephritis
  94. Glycemic index: A helpful tool for diabetes?
  95. Guillain-Barre syndrome
  96. Headaches 101: Know your type
  97. Headaches and hormones
  98. Headaches: Treatment depends on your diagnosis and symptoms
  99. Is chocolate healthy?
  100. Herbal supplements and heart drugs
  101. High blood pressure (hypertension)
  102. High blood pressure and cold remedies: Which are safe?
  103. High blood pressure and sex
  104. High blood pressure: Can you prevent it?
  105. High blood pressure dangers
  106. How opioid addiction occurs
  107. How to get used to positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy
  108. How to tell if a loved one is abusing opioids
  109. How to use opioids safely
  110. Hunter syndrome
  111. Hypertensive crisis: What are the symptoms?
  112. Hypothermia
  113. IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease)
  114. Improve obstructive sleep apnea with physical activity
  115. Insulin and weight gain
  116. Insulin therapy options
  117. Intensive insulin therapy
  118. Intracranial hematoma
  119. Isolated systolic hypertension: A health concern?
  120. Kratom for opioid withdrawal
  121. L-arginine: Does it lower blood pressure?
  122. Late-night eating: OK if you have diabetes?
  123. Preventing lead exposure
  124. Lead poisoning
  125. Living better with obstructive sleep apnea
  126. Low-phosphorus diet: Helpful for kidney disease?
  127. Making sense of obstructive sleep apnea treatments
  128. Diabetes and carbs
  129. Medications and supplements that can raise your blood pressure
  130. Menopause and high blood pressure: What's the connection?
  131. Molar pregnancy
  132. MRI: Is gadolinium safe for people with kidney problems?
  133. New Test for Preeclampsia
  134. Nighttime headaches: Relief
  135. Nosebleeds
  136. Obstructive sleep apnea
  137. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  138. Obstructive sleep apnea: How quickly will I see results from treatment?
  139. Opioids and other drugs: What to watch for
  140. Pain Management
  141. Pheochromocytoma
  142. Picnic Problems: High Sodium
  143. Pituitary tumors
  144. Polycystic kidney disease
  145. Polypill: Does it treat heart disease?
  146. Porphyria
  147. Postpartum preeclampsia
  148. Preeclampsia
  149. Prescription drug abuse
  150. Primary aldosteronism
  151. Pulse pressure: An indicator of heart health?
  152. Mayo Clinic Minute: Rattlesnakes, scorpions and other desert dangers
  153. Reactive hypoglycemia: What can I do?
  154. Reading food labels
  155. Renal diet for vegetarians
  156. Resperate: Can it help reduce blood pressure?
  157. Sample DASH menus
  158. Scorpion sting
  159. Secondary hypertension
  160. Serotonin syndrome
  161. Service dogs assist with diabetes care
  162. Sleep deprivation: A cause of high blood pressure?
  163. Sleep tips
  164. Vegetable recipes
  165. Blood sugar testing
  166. Snoring
  167. Snoring solution: Sleep on your side
  168. Spider bites
  169. Stress and headaches: Stop the cycle
  170. Stress and high blood pressure
  171. Symptom Checker
  172. Takayasu's arteritis
  173. Tapering off opioids: When and how
  174. Tetanus
  175. Tetanus shots: Is it risky to receive 'extra' boosters?
  176. The dawn phenomenon: What can you do?
  177. Tips for cutting costs of blood glucose test strips
  178. Infographic: Transplant for Polycystic Kidney Disease
  179. Treating pain: When is an opioid the right choice?
  180. Vasodilators
  181. Vegetarian diet: Can it help me control my diabetes?
  182. Vesicoureteral reflux
  183. Video: Heart and circulatory system
  184. How diabetes affects your blood sugar
  185. How to measure blood pressure using a manual monitor
  186. How to measure blood pressure using an automatic monitor
  187. Obstructive sleep apnea: What happens?
  188. What is blood pressure?
  189. Weightlifting: Bad for your blood pressure?
  190. What are opioids and why are they dangerous?
  191. What's your high blood pressure risk?
  192. White coat hypertension
  193. Wrist blood pressure monitors: Are they accurate?
  194. Effectively managing chronic kidney disease