These drugs have a complex mode of action. They not only improve patients’ symptoms but also improve the outlook (prognosis) in a wide range of cardiac conditions. They are used in the treatment of hypertension when they are often combined with a diuretic to get maximum benefit. They are also effective in patients with heart failure. Because of their beneficial effect on outlook they are used in many groups of patients who have problems because of coronary artery disease. The commonest side effect is a dry cough. This occurs in about 15% (1 in 7) patients treated. In most cases the cough is mild but about 5% (1 in 20) patients find the cough so troublesome that they stop taking these drugs.

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