NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

Which medication is less likely to cause cough among ARBs?

1. Benazepril

2. Irbesartan

3. Captopril

4. Spironolactone

The correct answer is: Irbesartan

Among the choices provided, irbesartan is less likely to cause cough among ARBs (Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers). This is because irbesartan does not inhibit the breakdown of bradykinin, unlike other ACE inhibitors such as captopril, which can lead to an accumulation of bradykinin and subsequently cause a persistent dry cough. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic and not an ARB, so it is not directly related to cough side effects caused by ARBs. Benazepril, although an ACE inhibitor like captopril, is not as strongly associated with cough as captopril. Therefore, in this context, irbesartan is the medication that is less likely to cause cough among ARBs.