Posted on 10/17/2005 11:34:22 PM PDT by FairOpinion
A "FIRST-line" anti-high blood pressure drug is leaving patients at far greater risk of suffering strokes than if they take other medication for the condition, according to a major study.
People taking the commonly prescribed beta-blockers had a 16 per cent higher chance of stroke than if they took other drugs to treat high blood pressure, according to the findings by Swedish researchers. One particular beta-blocker, atenolol, was found to be associated with a 26 per cent higher stroke risk.
Medical experts warned yesterday that patients should not stop taking beta-blockers, which are beneficial for a range of other conditions. But an editorial in the medical journal the Lancet said the current endorsement of the drugs should be changed.
A team of researchers led by Professor Lars Hjalmar Lindholm, from Umea University Hospital, Sweden, pooled together data from 13 trials involving more than 105,000 patients.
In a further investigation involving 27,500 patients from seven studies, the scientists found that those taking beta-blockers were only 19 per cent less likely to have a stroke than those having no treatment at all. This was about half the benefit expected from previous trials.
The Lancet said: "It will be interesting to see how the many guideline committees respond to the latest information."
Alison Shaw, a medical spokeswoman at the British Heart Foundation, said: "People taking beta-blockers should not consider stopping or changing their medications on the basis of this study.
"However, they could discuss the other options for successful blood pressure lowering with their doctor."
Some are called ACE inhibitors, and even newer than those, ARB-s.
Read up on them and talk to your doctor.
Here is just one link that discusses the different classes of anti--hypertension drugs.
health & science ping
The fact is that Beta Blockers do have a role to play in the management of hypertensions.
As an example, hypertensive blacks have a 28% decrease in mortality following an acute MI if placed on Beta Blockers.
Blacks and Asians also have a greater amount of angioedema and cough when placed on ACE inhibitors. ALL medications should be prescribed in a thoughtful manner and in full consideration of the big picture.
BTW, many of my patients who have chronic migraines do very well with low dose beta blockers. A nice side effect that occurs with beta blockers is that patients tend to be a bit less crabby, a side effect that is noticed by many spouses. ;-)
Thanks for the info. I am sure there are situations, when some drugs are more appropriate than others, but as I understand doctors tend to typically prescribe beta blockers as a first drug, willy nilly.
I knew several friends who have had terrible side affects, such as not being able to go up a flight of stairs without almost passing out, though they were in excellent physical shape, used to run several miles a day. Needless to say, when the doctor changed their meds, they were fine again.
I think the point is that beta blockers shouldn't be the first blood pressure medication prescribed for everyone.
ping
Beta Blockers generally are not the first like of drugs for high blood pressure. The gold standard reccomendation is that the majority of patients should start out with thiazide diueretics. BTW, there is a rule of thumb that 1/3 of all patients will only require 1 drug, 1/3 will require 2 drugs, and 1/3 will require 3 drugs.
Why is it that drugs are always prescribed by doctors? Isn't it ever possible that there are natural choices that could be tried first?
My mothers's kidneys were damaged, supposedly by high blood pressure, even though she took some other HBP medications for 40 years.
Quinapril supposedly "protects" kidneys (if they are not already damaged) and does not cause the excretion of potassium that, say, the water pills do.
Doctors are very aggressively attempting, nowdays, to lower blood pressure to close to 120. The acceptable limit had been 140.
Can this new goal, of BP of 120, be causing the problem with increased strokes?
Also, I am a little curious about the way in which beta blockers might upset the sodium-potassium balance. I thought that keeping the two minerals in balance was a good idea.
When I first heard I had hypertension (4 years ago), I told my doctor I bought the book on the DASH eating plan* and was going to try to follow it, as well as take my meds. He didn't seem to know what the DASH eating plan was and told me that I didn't need to lose weight. (I think my blood pressure would be helped if I lost about 15 pounds.)
*"The plan that is clinically proven to significantly reduce blood pressure"
Such as anything else other than drugs? Diet, exercise, supplements, etc.
(I know you must just love getting medical questions from your freeper friends, forgive me)
Next time you see a kid with a roadside lemonade stand, stop and buy some. Consider that my bill. ;-)
Bad idea. People with high blood pressure may show no symptoms for years. Your first clue that you are sick might be that you are dead.
If you have a trust issue with a doctor, find another doctor.
I would like to find one who is not "practicing" &/or a whore for B I G D R U G !
OK I love lemonade! %;9) Thanks!
Fine. When you come down with a life threatening disease, stay home.
You'll have your principles. That will look good on your headstone.
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