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Australian Prescriber Vol. 21 No. 4 1998

Angiotensin receptor antagonists for the treatment of hypertension

The angiotensin1 receptor antagonists are new drugs for the treatment of high blood pressure. They act on the same blood pressure control system of the body as drugs called ACE inhibitors. The new drugs reduce blood pressure just as well as the ACE inhibitors, but in short-term studies they have fewer adverse effects. At present, the long-term safety and effectiveness of the new drugs are unknown.