Captopril

[bsnwnab]

Rationale: "Captopril is an antihypertensive medication (angiotension-converting enzyme inhibitor). Orthostatic hypotension can occur in clients taking this medication. Clients are advised to avoid standing in one position for long periods of time, to change positions slowly, and to avoid extreme warmth such as with baths, showers, or heat from the sun in warm weather."

my question is, WHY must patients avoid extreme warmth? what is the mechanism, or pathophysiology of captopril and extreme warmth?

thx

[Tree525]

I could be wrong , but my understanding is that warmth causes vasodilation and cold causes vasoconstriction. Vasodilation causes your BP to go down. So if a client is on catopril, an ACE inhibitor which already lowers your bp, than they would need to avoid extreme warmth to prevent any unnecessary vasodilation which would further lower their blood pressure. Not sure if this is the rationale that they are speaking of but it is the only one that makes sense in my mind for those specific circumstances. Hope this helps!

[bsnwnab]

that makes sense.. thanks! ='))

[Mike R, ADN, BSN, RN]

I could be wrong , but my understanding is that warmth causes vasodilation and cold causes vasoconstriction. Vasodilation causes your BP to go down. So if a client is on catopril, an ACE inhibitor which already lowers your bp, than they would need to avoid extreme warmth to prevent any unnecessary vasodilation which would further lower their blood pressure. Not sure if this is the rationale that they are speaking of but it is the only one that makes sense in my mind for those specific circumstances. Hope this helps!

I agree entirely.

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

Yup! Agreed

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

ding-ding-ding! we have a winnah! vasodilation it is-- and don't forget other causes, like alcohol, hot tubs, and drinking alcohol in hot tubs.