– I wrote before here ➡ about these findings on the expensive blood pressure medicines that Big Pharma are pushing.  They are not the best options.
– A large study in 2002 showed clearly that simple diuretic pills which cost pennies a day work better than the expensive pills from Big Pharma.  Now, a new study has clearly replicated these findings.
– Once again, we have a contest between those who want what’s best for people against those who hold the maximization of profits as their highest goal.
– Big Pharma has millions and millions of dollars available to spread their message.  Do you think they are going to use these funds to inform the public that there are better and cheaper alternatives to their products?
“Evidence from subsequent analyses of ALLHAT and other clinical outcome trials confirm that neither alpha blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, nor calcium channel blockers surpass thiazide-type diuretics (at appropriate dosage) as initial therapy for reduction of cardiovascular or renal risk”
– This particularly galls me because I take Diovan for borderline high blood pressure – and it costs me about $140 a month.  Nice, eh?
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New research supports the findings of a landmark drug comparison study published in 2002 in which a diuretic drug or “water pill” outperformed other medications for high blood pressure. A scientific team including investigators from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston reports the findings in the May 11 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
About one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure, which, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), can lead to a host of health problems including heart failure, coronary heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.
The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) is the largest high blood pressure treatment trial ever conducted and compared the impact of four classes of blood pressure drugs on 42,418 high-risk patients between 1994 and 2002. High blood pressure in adults is defined as 140/90 mm Hg or above.
“We looked at data since the trial ended to make sure our message hasn’t changed. And, it hasn’t. Diuretic drugs work as well or better than other medications in preventing heart failure,” said Barry Davis, M.D., Ph.D., study co-author, Guy S. Parcel Chair in Public Health and director of the Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials (CCCT) at The University of Texas School of Public Health.
More… ➡
– Read this and get a copy to your doctor. Chances are that he or she are getting most of their information from Big Pharma and Big Pharma’s certainly not going to tell them.
– Extra credit reading: ➡