Final answer:
ACE inhibitors, used to treat high blood pressure, are known to potentially cause a persistent and annoying cough as a side effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The drugs that can cause an annoying cough are Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These medications are used to treat conditions like hypertension by blocking the ACE enzyme from converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II, thus lowering the ability of angiotensin II to raise blood pressure. An example of an ACE inhibitor is lisinopril. Different classes of drugs such as Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs), which include candesartan (Atacand), telmisartan (Micardis), and valsartan (Diovan); β-blockers such as metoprolol; and α-blockers, function through different mechanisms and are less likely to cause cough as a side effect. ACE inhibitors are known for their potential to cause a persistent dry cough in some patients, which often leads to a switch to alternative medications like ARBs, which usually do not provoke this reaction.