ARBs block the receptor that angiotensin II uses to tighten blood vessels, so the vessels relax and blood pressure falls. They do a very similar job to ACE inhibitors but without causing the persistent dry cough that makes many people stop taking those — which is the single most common reason a patient is switched from an ACE inhibitor to an ARB.
Class descriptions are written by the Priya Life Science editorial team. Individual drug pages combine that summary with live label, approval, manufacturer and shortage data from the U.S. FDA via the openFDA API. This page is general information and is not medical advice — it is not exhaustive, drugs within a class are not automatically interchangeable, and approvals and brand names differ between the US, EU/Ireland (EMA/HPRA) and other regions. Always consult the official prescribing information and your clinician or pharmacist. Related: Drug Shortages Tracker · FDA Approvals · All drug comparisons