Patients receiving ACE inhibitors may develop which common side effect?

Patients taking ACE inhibitors often experience a variety of side effects due to the way these medications work in the body. A particularly common side effect is a dry cough. This occurs because ACE inhibitors increase levels of bradykinin, a peptide that can promote coughing as a result of irritation in the respiratory tract.

In addition to the dry cough, these medications can also lead to an increase in potassium levels, known as hyperkalemia. ACE inhibitors reduce the production of aldosterone, a hormone that normally facilitates the excretion of potassium in the urine. As a result, the retention of potassium can occur, contributing to hyperkalemia.

While hypotension can occur as a side effect of ACE inhibitors due to their blood pressure-lowering effects, it is not as commonly experienced as the dry cough and hyperkalemia. Therefore, the combination of dry cough and hyperkalemia is representative of the typical side effects seen with ACE inhibitor use. This is why the correct response acknowledges both the cough and the potential for elevated potassium levels.