New blood pressure drugs overwhelmingly more effective than older drugs

A trial of 19,000 subjects comparing new blood pressure drugs with old ones was stopped because the new drugs were so much better that it didn't warrant a comparison. The new drugs Norvasc and Coversyl resulted in a massive reduction in the number of cardiovascular events compared to the older, but still commonly prescribed combination of beta-blockers and diuretics. The fact that previous studies contradicted these results was due to inaccurate analysis and presentation of the results claim researchers. Another study was stopped when it was obvious that high blood pressure patients benefited from taking Lipitor irrespective of whether they had high cholesterol. Norvasc and Lipitor have since been combined into one pill called Caduet which simultaneously tackles blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Reuters

Related Disease Topics:

• High blood pressure
• Hypertension
• High cholesterol

Article Source Details

About: New blood pressure drugs overwhelmingly more effective than older drugs

Date: 8 December 2004

Source: Reuters

Author: Ben Hirschler

URL: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=7031273

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Medication
• Medication and high blood pressure
• Medication and hypertension
• Research
• Research and high blood pressure
• Research and hypertension
• Research and high cholesterol
• Medication and high cholesterol

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