angiotensin-receptor blocker

noun

variants: or angiotensin receptor blocker or angiotensin II receptor blocker

Medical Definition of angiotensin-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