ACE Inhibitor Drugs May Have Severe Side Effects

8 May, 2012 20:00 CET

Drugs that lower blood pressure, called ACE inhibitors, are used to treat an array of diseases but patients may find themselves experiencing a rare side effect that they may not have been informed about—severe swelling around the neck and face.

In some of the worst incidents, the patient’s throat and tongue may become severely bloated and close their airways, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. This type of swelling is called angioedema and there are currently no treatments that can reverse or slow it down.

One doctor wants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to add a “black box warning”—its most stringent warning—to the drugs’ prescribing information to warn doctors about angioedema.

Although studies show that less than one percent of patients will develop the disorder,  the percentage becomes a large group when tens of millions of people take the medications for a myriad of reasons such as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, kidney disease, and heart failure.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a dangerous drug, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to find out if a dangerous drug lawyer may be able to help you. Call us today at (800)-561-7154.