Imagine that someone close to you is in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to an accident, major surgery, or severe infection. Sometimes, blood pressure can drop dangerously low in these situations. Today, we're talking about a special, powerful drug that doctors use in such a life-saving battle. That's Angiotensin II.
What exactly is Angiotensin II?
Simply put, this is a drug that causes the blood vessels in our body to contract, or narrow. In medicine, we call this a 'vasoconstrictor'. Imagine that when you squeeze a water pipe a little, the pressure of the water flowing through it increases, right? Similarly, when blood vessels contract, the pressure of the blood flowing inside them, that is , blood pressure, increases .
It is usually used in a hospital, especially in an intensive care unit (ICU), when blood pressure has dropped to a level that is life-threatening and cannot be controlled with other treatments. The brand name for this is GIAPREZA.
What should the doctor know before giving this medicine?
Although this is a medication that is administered in a hospital setting under the supervision of a medical team, it is very important to discuss the patient's complete medical history with the doctor. In particular, they should be informed about the following points:
- Allergies: If you have an allergic reaction to this medicine (Angiotensin II) or any other medicine, food, dye, or preservative, you must tell your doctor.
- Pregnancy: It is essential to inform the doctor if the patient is pregnant, or is trying to become pregnant.
- If a nursing mother: If the patient is a nursing mother, inform the doctor.
Providing this information will greatly help the medical team provide the safest and most effective treatment for the patient.
How to use this medicine?
This is not a pill that you swallow or an injection that you put into your skin. This is a medicine that is given continuously, like saline, into a vein. We call it an infusion into a vein. This is given by a trained health care professional in a hospital. They will monitor things like the patient's blood pressure and heart rate and carefully control the dose.
Do you use this for children?
Special care should be taken when giving this medicine to young children. These decisions should be made on the advice of a pediatrician.
What if the dose increases (overdose)?
Since this is given in a hospital, under medical supervision, there is usually no need to worry about an 'overdose'. The medical team constantly monitors the patient. If there is any suspicion of an overdose of a drug, the hospital has facilities to take the necessary steps. In case of an emergency, the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) should be informed immediately. Also, for any information regarding drug poisoning, you can call the National Poisons Information Center at the Colombo National Hospital .
Other drugs that may interact with this medicine (Drug Interactions)
When some medicines are used together, they can affect how each other works. We call this a 'drug interaction'. Angiotensin II can interact with other medicines, especially some medicines for blood pressure or heart disease. For example:
- ACE inhibitors: `benazepril`, `candesartan`, `enalapril`, `lisinopril`, `ramipril`
- ARBs: `irbesartan`, `losartan`, `valsartan`
This list is not exhaustive. Therefore, it is essential to give the doctor a complete list of all medications the patient is taking (prescribed, over-the-counter, traditional medicine, vitamins, nutritional supplements). Also, inform them about smoking and alcohol use.
Serious side effects to be aware of when taking medication
The medical team will monitor the patient very closely while administering this medicine. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, you should report them to your doctor or nurse immediately. These may be signs of serious side effects.
| Side effect/symptom | Things to watch out for |
|---|---|
| Allergic Reactions | Skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Symptoms of a Blood Clot | Difficulty breathing; vision changes; chest pain; sudden, severe headache; leg pain, swelling, warmth; difficulty speaking; sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg. |
| High Blood Sugar | Dizziness ; dry mouth; dry skin; fruity breath odor; nausea; stomach pain; increased hunger or thirst; frequent urination. |
| Increased Acidity in the Body | Rapid breathing; rapid heartbeat; headache; confusion; feeling weak or tired; nausea, vomiting. |
| Abnormal bleeding | Bruises appearing anywhere on the body for no reason or bleeding that does not stop even from a minor injury. |
This list does not include all possible side effects. If you have any further questions about this, talk to your doctor.
Take-Home Message
- Angiotensin II is a very powerful drug that is only given in a hospital to raise blood pressure when it becomes life-threateningly low.
- This causes blood vessels to narrow and blood pressure to rise.
- It is essential to inform the doctor about all allergies, pregnancy, and other medications the patient is taking.
- This is a medication that is given through a vein, under the close supervision of a medical team.
- It is important to be aware of the symptoms of serious side effects, such as blood clots and allergies, and to notify medical staff immediately if you notice anything like this.
- Because this is a specialized medicine, you are not allowed to use or store it at home.
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