A patient with severe liver disease is receiving the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)inhibitor,captopril (Capoten).The nurse is aware that the advantage of this drug for this patient is which characteristic?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Captopril is not a prodrug and does not need to be metabolized by the liver before becoming active. This is beneficial for patients with severe liver disease, who may have impaired liver function and therefore may not be able to metabolize prodrugs effectively. Additionally, as a direct-acting ACE inhibitor, captopril has less potential for affecting electrolyte levels than other ACE inhibitors, and first-dose hypotensive effects are a common adverse effect of all ACE inhibitors, including captopril.

A Patient with Severe Liver Disease Is Receiving the Angiotensin-Converting