Irbesartan treatment in hypertension.

Angiotensin II receptor antagonists lower blood pressure by blocking the final step in the renin pathway, whereas ACE inhibitors reduce angiotensin II production. ACE inhibitors also block kinin degradation, which may alter both efficacy and side-effects. Irbesartan, one of the newer receptor antagonists, has confirmed their tolerability and shown similar dose-related efficacy to other major classes.