Novartis receives U.S. approval for blood pressure drug Tekturna

International Herald Tribune ^ | Published: March 6, 2007 | The Associated Press

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

BASEL, Switzerland: Swiss pharmaceutical maker Novartis AG said Tuesday it has received U.S. approval for the hypertension drug Tekturna — a potential blockbuster that has shown the ability to lower blood pressure more effectively than common treatments.

Tekturna is the first new type of medicine in more than a decade for treating high blood pressure. Approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration makes the United States the first country to allow it to be sold.

"Many patients require two or more medicines to control their blood pressure," said Novartis development chief James Shannon. "As a new treatment approach, Tekturna has the potential to help these patients manage their disease."

The drug is expected to reach U.S. pharmacies later this month, the company said. It is given in oral tablets and acts by targeting renin — an enzyme responsible for high blood pressure.

Douglas C. Throckmorton, deputy director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said, "Hypertension is rightly called 'the silent killer' because it usually has no symptoms until it causes major damage to the body organs."

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Got to talk to my doctor on this one...first new treatment for high blood pressure in more than a decade.

[tubebender]

I'm taking 4 different drugs for my BP but I treat new drugs like a new software release. Let's see what the bugs are first by letting someone else test it...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I'm taking two and according to my at home machine I am running over 150....course I was doing some things just before taking it.

Was at 130 the other day in the doctors office...so I may have a machine problem...

[Marine_Uncle]

Hope it will work well for you if the doc feels it is a positive move. Some day I gotta get my pressure checked. Taint a spring chicken anymore.

[KoRn]

"Was at 130 the other day in the doctors office

Was your 'lower number' 130?!?

[tubebender]

When mine gets down to 130 my wife waves a bottle of Crown Royal under my nose to revive me...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

No it was 85...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Be careful with aspirin and ibuprofen,...high blood pressure and thin blood is... Big Trouble....

[KoRn]

Ah! You had me worried for ya there for a minute!

[politicalwit]

"home machine I am running over 150."

Be sure you have the proper cuff size. A cuff too small will actually read higher than the actual pressure. A cuff too large will show a lower reading. (not kidding here....we did a study back in 1972 at the Clinical Research Center, UTMB, Galveston, TX.) 2/3 to 3/4 of the length of the upper arm is appropriate.

[politicalwit]

I'm on 50mg Metoprolol twice daily for my B/P. Here's the kicker...800mg Ibuprofen twice daily and 325mg aspirin X 1 daily

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

You must have real thick blood....

[Uriah_lost]

I'm on 4 as well and I really hate the side effects, if you know what I mean....
I wonder if this one will be better on that front?
I hope so.
A voice from the next room hopes so too......lol

[neverdem]

Here's the kicker...800mg Ibuprofen twice daily and 325mg aspirin X 1 daily

Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors and the Antiplatelet Effects of Aspirin

I do recall reading the recommendation to take aspirin at least one hour prior to taking any other NSAID in order to get the irreversible inhibition of platelet aggregation. This link uses two hours. Beware of gastrointestinal bleeding and loss of kidney function, the two main adverse effects. See and talk to your doc.

[tubebender]

A voice from the next room hopes so too......lol

Tell her I'm 74 and I can't help her >:o