Different hypertension drug therapy combinations pose different level of risk

There are three classes of blood pressure drugs: ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and beta blockers. These drugs are frequently used in combination with a diuretic to control high blood pressure. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that the rate of fatal heart attacks was doubled in women who used calcium channel blockers and diuretics compared to those on other therapies. The risk of cardiovascular death was 85% greater in women taking the calcium channel blocker and diuretic combination compared to those taking a beta blocker and diuretic. Nevertheless, the total risk of cardiovascular death from use of the combination therapy is actually quite small. The study involved 30,000 post menopausal women with high blood pressure but no heart disease.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by The WMUR Channel

Related Disease Topics:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Hypertension
• High blood pressure

Article Source Details

About: Different hypertension drug therapy combinations pose different level of risk

Date: 15 December 2004

Source: The WMUR Channel

URL: http://www.thewmurchannel.com/health/3998454/detail.html

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Death from cardiovascular disease
• Death from hypertension
• Death from high blood pressure
• Medication
• Medication and cardiovascular disease
• Medication and hypertension
• Medication and high blood pressure
• Research
• Research and cardiovascular disease
• Research and hypertension
• Research and high blood pressure
• Cause of cardiovascular disease
• Cause of death
• Risk and cardiovascular disease
• Risk and hypertension
• Risk and high blood pressure
• Risk and heart disease

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