Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Health » Blood Pressure Medications

FDA Says ARBs Do Not Increase Cancer Risk

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:18:23 +0000

Recent studies have raised questions about angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), a common medication used to lower blood pressure, and increased cancer risk. However, according to an analysis done by the FDA there is no increased cancer risk.

Concerns were initially raised by an analysis published in the Journal Lancet in June 2010 in which researchers reported a statistically significant increase in cancer risk was observed in patients who received ARBs as part of their treatment. They reviewed data from about 60,000 participants in no less than 5 studies and found a risk of new cancer development to be 6% in those not using ARBs and 7.2% in those who did. The study’s authors were careful to note that no conclusions should be drawn from their research but did suggest that further research was warranted.

Analysis done by the FDA included 31 trials and over 155,000 patients and compared the cancer rates of those who used ARBs and those who did not. They found no evidence that using ARBs resulted in high cancer rates or deaths.

For more information visit:

“U.S. health officials found on Thursday that a class of widely-used blood pressure drugs does not increase the risk of cancer.” Reuters, June 2, 2011. Retrieved online June 17, 2011 from http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/02/us-fda-pressure-idUSTRE7515LB20110602.

“FDA: Certain High Blood-Pressure Drugs Don’t Boost Cancer Risks” Wall Street Journal, June 2, 2011. Retrieved online June 17, 2011 from http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110602-709745.html.

“Angiotensin-receptor blockade and risk of cancer: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials”
Dr Ilke Sipahi MD,Sara M Debanne PhD,Douglas Y Rowland PhD,Daniel I Simon MD,James C Fang MD
The Lancet Oncology – 1 July 2010 ( Vol. 11, Issue 7, Pages 627-636 )
DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(10)70106-6. Retrieved online June 17, 2011 from http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110602-709745.html.

Blood Pressure Medications and Antibiotics

admin — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 15:02:52 +0000

Concerns have been raised about taking calcium channel blockers in conjunction with certain antibiotics in a new study published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Researchers studied more than a decade of information and discovered that an alarming number of individuals on calcium channel blockers who took either erythromycin or clarithromycin were admitted to the hospital for hypotension or shock treatment. It is believed that the way the antibiotics interact with an enzyme that metabolizes the calcium channel blocker is what triggers the negative reaction.

For more information visit http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/rapidpdf/cmaj.100702v1.pdf to read the original article or http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/49566/ for another summary.

Source:

Wright AJ, Gomes T, Mamdani MM, et al. The risk of hypotension following co-prescription of macrolide antibiotics and calcium-channel blockers. CMAJ 2011; DOI:10.1503/cmaj.100702.

Hypertension Drug Deemed Too Dangerous To Sell

admin — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:06:52 +0000

Pfizer is voluntarily removing the drug Thelin, meant to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, from the market and stopping all clinical trials based on new information showing that it is associated with liver toxicity and even fatal liver injury. The drug was approved in the European Union, Canada and Australia.

For more information visit http://www.webmd.boots.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20101213/blood-pressure-drug-sitaxentan-%28thelin%29-being-withdrawn

ALLHAT – Cheap Diuretics Better Than Expensive Drugs for Lowering Blood Pressure?

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:20:33 +0000

New information from ALLHAT, a major anti-hypertension study which included over 40,000 participants, recently released information showing that inexpensive diuretics outperformed expensive calcium blockers and ACE inhibitors over the course of the study when ability to lower blood pressure was not viewed as the only endpoint, but factors such as preventing stroke, heart failure and overall cardiovascular disease.

Information collected 13 years after the beginning of the ALLHAT trial revealed that, compared to those on a diuretic, patients in the ACE inhibitor group had a 20 percent higher death rate from stroke, and participants who were in the calcium channel blocker group had a 12 percent higher rate of hospitalization and death because of heart failure.

The study recommends that diuretics should be tried first by hypertensives as a means to lower blood pressure.

For more information visit the page titled “New Findings About Drugs to Lower High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol” which can be found at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/allhat/facts.htm.
Also, http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=641986.

FDA to Investigate ARBs and Possible Cancer Risk

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 04:36:49 +0000

A recent meta-analysis published in Lancet Oncology has prompted the FDA to begin a review the safety of angiotensin receptor blockers after the study found that ARBs may be associated with an increase in cancer rates.

For more information visit “FDA to look into possible cancer risk with ARBs” by Lisa Nainggolan which can be found at http://www.theheart.org/article/1099535.do.

Doctor Voices Concerns about Current Hypertension Treatments in Elderly

admin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:34:26 +0000

Are current hypertension treatment guidelines too aggressive for elderly patients? One Doctor recently reviewed this question in the British Medical Journal publication Clinical Evidence.

Dr. James Wright is the Coordinating Editor of Clinical Evidence and also a member of the Cochrane Hypertension Review Group. His conclusion after carefully reviewing the results of seven high quality randomized controlled trials was to take a more conservative approach in his pharmacological treatment of patients 80 years and older, modeling his methods after those used in the Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial (HYVET).

To find out more about Dr. Wright’s research and conclusion, see “Treating hypertension in the over 80s: putting the evidence into context” James M Wright. Editorial. Clinical Evidence, December 21st, 2009. Can view online at http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/downloads/21-12-09.pdf.

Weight Loss to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally

admin — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:26:01 +0000

If you are carrying a few extra pounds, weight loss may be an excellent way to lower your blood pressure naturally. According to the Surgeon General, high blood pressure is twice as common in obese individuals when compared to those at a healthy weight. Research also shows that when overweight persons drop their weight by 10 pounds it can not only naturally lower their blood pressure but can significantly cut their chances of becoming hypertensive. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7) estimates that by achieving normal BMI, a 5-20 point drop in systolic blood pressure is normal.

Here are some great ways you can lose weight and maybe even lower your blood pressure naturally!

DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)
Endorsed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) , the DASH diet calls for a reduction in red meats, sodium, sweets and artificial sugars, and emphasizes fruits and vegetables as well as potassium, magnesium, calcium and a whole host of heart healthy foods. Simply following the DASH diet without weight loss has been proven to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart failure; however, using the DASH diet to count calories can help your lose weight too- making it extra valuable in the fight against hypertension! The complete diet can be found here.

Aerobic Exercise
The JNC7 recommends at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, be performed at least 4 times a week for an average drop in blood pressure of 4-9mmHg systolic. If you weigh 150 pounds, walking 2 miles in 30 minutes will burn roughly 175 calories.

Always get your physicians approval before beginning any exercise program!

For more information visit:

“NHLBI Study Finds DASH Diet And Reduced Sodium Lowers Blood Pressure For All” by the NIH News Release. Can be viewed online at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/new/press/01-12-17.htm

“The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Can be viewed online at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/hypertension/jnc7full.pdf

“Overweight and Obesity: Health Consequences” by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Surgeon General. Can be viewed online at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/fact_consequences.htm.

Exercising with Hypertension

admin — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:43:06 +0000

If you are using medications to control your hypertension, make sure you are fully aware of their side effects. In 2004 the American College of Sports Medicine wrote a full report on exercise guidelines for hypertensives. Included in the report were the following warnings for hypertensives on medications:

• Antihypertensive medications such as beta blockers and diuretics impair the ability to regulate body temperature during exercise in hot and/or humid environments
and provoke hypoglycemia (88,206). Thus, people using these medications should be educated on the signs/symptoms of heat illness, the role of adequate hydration, proper clothing to facilitate evaporative cooling, the optimal times of the day to exercise, the importance of decreasing the exercise dosage (time and intensity) during periods of increased heat or humidity, and methods to prevent hypoglycemia. In addition, beta blockers can substantially alter submaximal and maximal exercise capacity, particularly in those without myocardial ischemia and with nonselective
agents.
• Because antihypertensive agents such as alpha blockers, calcium channel blockers, and vasodilators may provoke hypotensive episodes after abrupt cessation of activity, extending the cool-down period is generally recommended (88,98).

Source:
“Exercise and Hypertension” This pronouncement was written for the American College of Sports Medicine by; Pescatello, Linda S. Ph.D., FACSM, (Co-Chair); Franklin, Barry A. Ph.D., FACSM, (Co-Chair); Fagard, Robert M.D., Ph.D. FACSM; Farquhar, William B. Ph.D.; Kelley, George A. D.A., FACSM; Ray, Chester A. Ph.D., FACSM. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: March 2004 – Volume 36 – Issue 3 – pp 533-553. Special Communications. Can be viewed online at http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/2004/03000/Exercise_and_Hypertension.25.aspx