ACE Inhibitors are PDIs
08/19/09, East Hartford

ACE (Angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors are prescribed for high blood pressure, or to help with heart failure, attack or prevention of these. ACE inhibitors may also be prescribed to Type 2 diabetics because the drug has been shown to slow down a process which frequently leads to kidney damage in this population.

ACE inhibitors, plus other medications such as beta-blockers and sedatives are frequently prescribed to older adults. Drugs which are known to impair driving are called "potential driver-impairing" (PDI) medications.

Research on medications and driving performance was done by the Center for Injury Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birimingham (UAB). These findings, which were just released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, indicate that 78 percent of individuals who are age 55 and older take PDI medications which may have a serious effect on their ability to drive safely. The study also found that only 18 percent of individuals surveyed which were on a PDI medication received a warning from a health care professional.

The lead author of the study, Paul MacLennan, PhD, stated that it is important for pharmacists to also make an effort to educate older adults taking PDIs about their side-effects so that modifications can be made to driving habits.

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