Moexipril is commonly prescribed to control high blood pressure but also performs another important role.
Moexipril Commonly Prescribed to Treat High Blood Pressure
Moexipril, brand name Univasc is a medication that is designed to lower blood pressure in patients suffering from hypertension. The medication belongs to the class of medications known angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These medication inhibit the ACE which is responsible for constricting blood vessels and increasing blood pressure. With ACE inhibited, the vessels remain dilated and blood pressure is decreased. Moexipril is a long acting ACE inhibitor and can be taken only once a day. As a pro-drug, Moexipril is hydrolyzed or metabolized in the body to its active form; moexiprilat which exerts the anti-hypertension effect.
How Moexipril Works
The therapeutic effect of taking Moexipril occurs 6 hours after the medication is ingested with the anti-hypertension effect lasting up to 24 hours. The normal body system that handles blood pressure regulation is the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. This sytem normal goes into play to increase blood pressure by releasing angiotensin. Angiotensin specifically angiotensin II, narrows the blood vessels and changes the heart’s structure to pump more blood. Both these changes result in increased blood pressure. Moexipril inhibits the conversion angiotensin I to angiotensin II which inadvertanly lowers pressure.
High Blood Pressure Leads to Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LHV) occurs when the heart has to contract harder leading to a pathological enlargement of the heart. The left ventricle is responsible to providing the contraction that gets the blood flowing throughout the body. LVH increases the risk of individuals to developing heart diseases such as heart failure, arrhythmia and heart attack.
Treating High blood Pressure Can Prevent Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
High blood pressure is one of the main causes of LVH. Treating left ventricular hypertrophy focuses on preventative measures as in the case of high blood pressure. In these cases the treatment goal is to lower the patients blood pressure, this in turn lowers the risk of developing LVH. Studies show that treating patients with ACE inhibitors like Moexipril have led to fewer cases of LVH.
Treating High Blood Pressure with Moexipril Leads to LVH Regression
According to a study published in the American Journal of Therapeutics study participants treated with Moexipril showed a reversal in their left ventricular hypertrophy. Therefore, not only is blood pressure controlled by the medication but the Moexipril also prevents and regresses the negative effect that hypertension causes to the cardiac muscles in the pumping powerhouse of the heart; the left ventricle. The regression lowers the risks associated with the enlarged ventricle.
References
- Sayegh F, Topouchian J, Hlawaty M, Olzewska M, Asmar R Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy with moexipril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, in hypertensive patients. Am J Ther. 2005 Jan-Feb;12(1):3-8 abstract
- George S Chrysant1 and PK Nguyen “Moexipril and left ventricular hypertrophy” Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2007 February; 3(1): 23–30 full article