Blood pressure drug linked with increased risk of bowel condition

Science Daily ^ | July 3, 2019 | Imperial College London

[ConservativeMind]

The new early-stage research finding comes from a team of scientists led by Imperial College London, who investigated the effectiveness and side effects of three common blood pressure medications: ACE-inhibitors, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers.

The most common treatments for high blood pressure are lifestyle changes and medications.

By investigating versions of genes that mimic the effects of these drugs, the team were able to study the drugs' effectiveness -- and their potential side effects.

The team, who included researchers from LMU Munich, then studied whether these gene variants -- which cause increased production of these proteins -- were linked to an increased or decreased risk of other diseases.

The good news was that, as expected, these so-called genetic variants (which coded for proteins involved in lowering blood pressure) were linked to lower heart disease and stroke risk.

However after assessing the risk of around 900 different diseases -- using data from the UK Biobank study -- the team found that the versions of genes related to the effects of a particular type of calcium channel blocker -- the non-dihydropyridine class, were linked to an increased the risk of a bowel condition called diverticulosis.

The link now needs further investigation with larger trials, explains Dr Dipender Gill, co-lead author of the research from Imperial's School of Public Health: "This is the first time that this class of blood pressure drug has been associated with diverticulosis. We're not sure of the underlying mechanism -- although it may relate to effects on the function of intestine muscles, which perform contractions to transport food through the gut.

Dr Gill cautions the findings should not change current prescribing guidelines and that people should not stop taking their medication unless first consulting their doctor.

[NorthstarMom]

My blood pressure shot up about 4 years ago. My doctor looked at my chart and kept saying”this just shouldn’t be” My blood pressure was consistent and great for the previous 16 years, even throughout my pregnancies. My weight, blood work all are good. My blood pressure just shot up and stayed high for a few months until I admitted defeat and started taking meds.

It was oddly emotional for me as I tried so hard to live a healthier lifestyle than my mother who had a massive heart attack at 51 (she miraculously survived - doc told her she should be 6 feet under). Yet there I was with sky high blood pressure at 41-following right in her footsteps. I keep hoping that my trajectory changes.

[PraiseTheLord]

Just read I think Peoples Pharmacy that statins cause diabetes.

Remem, people, our oversite people ARE NOT checking the incoming pills. NO NOT IN ANY WAY. The chinks seem to like to put cement in them :(

[Valk Rider]

I take 7 drugs a day for high blood pressure. And none of them do s**t. I see my MD in two weeks. I’m going to tell him to shove them up his ass.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was on Diovan 320MG and then Tribenzor 40/10/25 for almost 1/2 my life. I have been off that poison right at 2 years now. No telling how much damage it did to me. Here’s one reason why I stopped. If you care to watch the video below, you may find it interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPxYzRUj1tY

[Valk Rider]

High blood pressure, lower death rates.

Heart failure patients with high systolic blood pressure had a lower death rate.

Mortality rates were more than 4X higher for those with systolic pressures of less than 120 in comparison to those who had pressure above 161.

These conclusions were gleaned from research of more than 48,000 heart failure patients seen in 259 USA hospitals between March 2003 and December 2004.

Journal of the American Medical Association Nov 8, 2006; 296 (18): 2217-2226

Systolic blood pressure at admission, clinical characteristics, and outcomes in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure.

https://scholars.duke.edu/display/pub745249

[ConservativeMind]

From that study:

Short-term readmission rates were high regardless of SBP. Thus, patients with an elevated SBP at admission are at high risk of subsequent morbid events even though they appear to have a much lower short-term mortality risk. Physicians may perceive that a patient with normal or borderline-high SBP and heart failure is less severely ill than a hypotensive patient with heart failure. While this supposition may be accurate with regard to mortality, it does not appear to be true for morbid events.

The findings from this analysis may provide insight into the pathophysiological processes that occur in AHFS. It has been hypothesized that the elevated SBP at admission observed in the majority of AHFS patients may be related to neurohormonal and cytokine activation resulting in increased afterload.3 Patients with this clinical presentation may be those with early or mid-stage disease. The pathophysiology may differ in patients presenting with low SBP, who may be more likely to have advanced or end-stage disease with low cardiac output and signs of organ hypoperfusion.3 Systolic blood pressure may be a marker for a different stage of the disease or for a different pathophysiology altogether.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/204038

It is an interesting and strange insight that seems counterintuitive. However, it is not saying high SBP outside of immediately after heart failure is helpful.

[MosesKnows]

This seems to be accurate. I noted that the death rate has hovered around 100% for many centuries with no signs of abatement.

[P.O.E.]

Trying to lose some weight. Increased my activity, lowered my calorie intake, (no bread, etc.) If only I could cut down on the brewskis :(

[Bratch]

You’d think someone would apply for a government grant to try to alleviate the situation.

[MosesKnows]

You’d think someone would apply for a government grant to try to alleviate the situation

I expect several of the Democrat candidates to include this in their government give-away platforms in the next debates.

[ConservativeMind]

Good insights. Thanks for going through those for people.

Enjoy your adopted country!

[ConservativeMind]

The versions of this drug that don’t cause this problem are these:

Amlodipine (Norvasc)
Aranidipine (Sapresta)
Azelnidipine (Calblock)
Barnidipine (HypoCa)
Benidipine (Coniel)
Cilnidipine (Atelec, Cinalong, Siscard) Not available in US
Clevidipine (Cleviprex)
Efonidipine (Landel)
Felodipine (Plendil)
Isradipine (DynaCirc, Prescal)
Lacidipine (Motens, Lacipil)
Lercanidipine (Zanidip)
Manidipine (Calslot, Madipine)
Nicardipine (Cardene, Carden SR)
Nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat)
Nilvadipine (Nivadil)
Nimodipine (Nimotop) This substance can pass the blood-brain barrier and is used to prevent cerebral vasospasm.
Nisoldipine (Baymycard, Sular, Syscor)
Nitrendipine (Cardif, Nitrepin, Baylotensin)
Pranidipine (Acalas)

All of the drugs listed from the following point in the page to the bottom have these problems:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_channel_blocker#Non-dihydropyridine

[Terry L Smith]

Thanks for the list .. none of what i take!

[FR_addict]

Thanks!
I was reading another article and it took me to a list of all the calcium channel blockers.
I should have read the article here more carefully.