ARBs (angiotensin II receptor blockers): the complete list
All 7 arbs we track, ranked by our independent FDA recall-safety score. Unlike a plain list, every drug here carries its safety record, what it treats, whether a generic exists, and how long it stays in your body.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs, also called angiotensin II receptor antagonists) are prescription drugs that lower blood pressure. They also treat heart failure, protect the kidneys in people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, and lower stroke risk in people with hypertension and an enlarged left ventricle.
How they work: Angiotensin II is a natural substance that tightens blood vessels and prompts the body to retain sodium and water. ARBs block it from acting on its receptor, so vessels relax and blood pressure falls.
What everyone taking one should know
ARBs can cause death or serious injury to a developing fetus and must not be used in pregnancy. As a class they can also raise blood potassium (hyperkalemia), a risk that is higher with kidney disease or with potassium supplements and potassium-sparing diuretics. Anyone who becomes pregnant while taking one should contact their doctor.
| Drug | Safety | Generic? | Treats |
|---|---|---|---|
| candesartan cilexetilboxed warning | 70/100 | Brand only | Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure |
| telmisartanboxed warning | 70/100 | Yes | Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure |
| valsartanboxed warning | 68/100 | Yes | Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure |
| irbesartanboxed warning | unrated | Yes | Diabetic Nephropathies, Hypertension |
| losartan potassiumboxed warning Half-life: about 2 hours | unrated | Brand only | Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure |
| olmesartan medoxomilboxed warning | unrated | Yes | Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure |
| sparsentanboxed warning | unrated | Brand only | Proteinuria |
Ranked by our independent recall-safety score (higher is better), which reflects the FDA recall and enforcement record — not effectiveness. A higher score is not medical advice to switch; which drug is right for you is a prescriber’s decision. 4 are unrated (too little regulatory history to score) and sort last.
Sources
Other drug classes: NSAIDs · Statins · Benzodiazepines · Opioids · Beta blockers · SSRIs · SNRIs · ACE inhibitors · Proton pump inhibitors · Calcium channel blockers · Macrolide antibiotics.
The list is built from the FDA’s Established Pharmacologic Class tags, so it reflects the drugs in this class that we track (one row per active ingredient). Safety scores come from the FDA recall and enforcement record. This is general reference information, not medical advice — do not start, stop or switch a medication based on it; talk to your prescriber or pharmacist.