Could taking certain drugs reduce risk of ruptured brain aneurysm? (Seems likely)

Medical Xpress / American Academy of Neurology / Neurology ^ | June 5, 2024 | Jos P. Kanning et al

[ConservativeMind]

A new study suggests that people who take a few common drugs may have a decreased risk of having a bleeding stroke due to a ruptured brain aneurysm. The results do not prove that these drugs reduce the risk of this type of aneurysm; they only show an association.

Said Jos Peter Kanning, MSc, "Our current surgical treatments for brain aneurysms have a risk of permanent disability and death that often outweighs the potential benefits, so preventing rupture with a non-invasive drug would be very beneficial."

Researchers looked at 4,879 people who had ruptured brain aneurysms, called aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhages. Those people were each compared to nine people of the same age and sex, for a total of 43,911 people who did not have ruptured brain aneurysms.

Then researchers looked at electronic health records to see what prescription drugs people took.

They found that four drugs were associated with a decreased risk of having a ruptured brain aneurysm: the high blood pressure drug lisinopril; the cholesterol drug simvastatin; the diabetes drug metformin; and the drug tamsulosin, prescribed for enlarged prostate.

After adjusting for other factors that could affect the risk of stroke, such as high blood pressure, smoking, alcohol abuse and total number of other health conditions, researchers found that people currently taking lisinopril were 37% less likely to have a ruptured brain aneurysm than those not taking the drug. People taking simvastatin were 22% less likely to have a stroke. Those taking metformin were 42% less likely to have a stroke and those taking tamsulosin were 45% less likely.

Researchers also found an increased risk of having a ruptured brain aneurysm for people taking four drugs: the blood thinner warfarin; the antidepressant venlafaxine; the antipsychotic and anti-emetic drug prochlorperazine; and the painkiller co-codamol.

[ConservativeMind]

These each either directly, or indirectly, squelch hidden inflammatory processes. I note that at least three of the helpful drugs should benefit the endothelial layer, the blood vessel layer that faces the blood, which is surely also dysfunctional where the vessel is ballooning or weakening.

For the rest of us, getting healthier should provide a similar benefit.

[ConservativeMind]

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[ClearCase_guy]

“We want you to by our product for the rest of your life. We don’t especially care how long you live. We just want you to by our product for the rest of your life.”

[BipolarBob]

I was disappointed to not find bourbon on the list. Either overlooked or not included in the study.

[WASCWatch]

I take Tamsulosin and Metformin every day.

Take a baby aspirin and another couple of generic meds for blood pressure and to prevent TIAs.