Captopril, brand name Capoten, belongs to the class of drugs known as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and is used primarily to lower high blood pressure (hypertension). This drug can also be used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and type II diabetes. Unlike other ACE inhibitors, Captopril is not a prodrug. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a component of the body's renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) and cleaves inactive angiotensin I into the active vasoconstrictor angiotensin II. ACE (or kininase II) also degrades the potent vasodilator bradykinin. Consequently, ACE inhibitors decrease angiotensin II concentrations and increase bradykinin concentrations resulting in blood vessel dilation and thereby lowering blood pressure. Captopril is transported through the membrane and into the blood cells by solute carrier family 15 member 1 and solute carrier family 22 member 6. Multidrug resistance protein 1 transports captopril back through the membrane to later be renally excreted. Symptoms targeted by this drug are primarily high blood pressure, as well as congestive heart failure and type II diabetes. Side effects of this drug are cough, dizziness, headache, etc.. Affected organs are the heart and kidneys. Captopril is removed from the body through renal excretion.

Captopril Pathway (ACEI) References