angiotensin-receptor blocker

noun

variants or angiotensin receptor blocker or angiotensin II receptor blocker

: any of a class of drugs (as losartan and valsartan) that block the effects of angiotensin II by inhibiting access to a subset of its receptors and that are used especially in the treatment of hypertension

Newer drugs called angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) work in a way similar to the ACE inhibitors and have a very low side-effect profile …

—James L. Januzzi

The newer angiotensin II receptor blockers also relax blood vessels.

—Jane E. Allen

—abbreviation ARB