Medicines management programme: preferred medicines: angiotensin-II receptor blockers

摘要

There are eight licensed angiotensin‐II receptor blockers (ARBs) available in Ireland. Annualudexpenditure on ARBs under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme is approximatelyud€25 million.udThe selection of a preferred ARB under the Medicines Management Programme (MMP) isuddesigned to support prescribers in choosing a medicine of proven safety and efficacy in theudmanagement of patients with cardiovascular conditions, in particular hypertension and heartudfailure. GMS data suggest that ARBs may not be optimally prescribed nationally. In selectinguda preferred ARB the MMP aims to enhance the quality of prescribing and provide value forudmoney.udThe guidance may not be applicable to all patient populations, e.g. children and patientsudwith congenital cardiac conditions, in which circumstances specialist advice should beudsought. The use of ARBs is not recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy. Theuduse of ARBs is contraindicated during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.