Question

A patient states they are experiencing an annoying, persistent dry cough that started once they begin taking an ACE Inhibitor. The patient is not experiencing any other signs and symptoms. As the nurse, your response is:

A. Tell the patient to immediately stop taking the medication and seek medical treatment.
B. Reassure the patient this is a harmless side effect of this medication and to not abruptly stop taking the medication.
C. Recommend the patient start taking the medication at night to decrease the coughing.
D. Reassure the patient that the cough will disappear within 6 months of taking the medication.

Answer 1

The correct response is B. Reassure the patient this is a harmless side effect of this medication and to not abruptly stop taking the medication.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct response is B. Reassure the patient this is a harmless side effect of this medication and to not abruptly stop taking the medication.

When patients take ACE inhibitors, such as medications ending in -pril (e.g., lisinopril, enalapril), a common side effect is a dry cough. This cough is caused by the medication's effect on bradykinin, which accumulates in the lungs and leads to irritation and coughing. Although annoying, this side effect is generally harmless and does not require immediate cessation of the medication.

It is important to reassure the patient that the cough should go away on its own within a few weeks to months. Abruptly stopping the medication can result in a sudden increase in blood pressure and may require the patient to switch to a different class of antihypertensive medication.