High blood pressure is the world’s leading killer but poor rates of blood pressure control remain common. A new strategy where patients are started on a pill containing four medicines, each at a quarter of their usual doses, has been shown to be much more effective in getting blood pressure under control, compared to the common practice of monotherapy, where treatment commences with just one drug.
This first large-scale, randomized controlled clinical trial of starting this novel combination blood pressure medication brought blood pressure under control in 80 percent of participants in 12 weeks, compared to 60 percent in the control group who nonetheless had access to the best patient care.
Traditionally doctors have started with one drug and then follow up to consider adding or changing treatment—but this strategy is often not successful in practice and blood pressure control rates have remained stubbornly low for decades.
The results of the Australian study published today in The Lancet and are being presented at the world-leading European Society of Cardiology conference, ESC Congress 2021.
Your aticle is very interesting. I am on 5mg Ramipril currently, I was on Atenolol at one time but can't remember why that was stopped. I am also on Carvedilol which was recently changed from 12.5mg to 25mg which does seem to have improved my breathing a bit and Blood Pressure a bit more stable. xx
Very interesting 2greys. I take two Amlodipine now as one wasn’t enough, along with Atenolol and a small water tablet beginning with B. Blood pressure ok for now. Xxxx
Whilst I agree that there are problems with both diagnosis and treatment of hypertension. I am hesitant as there may be some shortfalls in a four in one treatment. If there is a reaction which of the four is the cause? Would your GP/consultant be giving you unneeded medications. Which of the four are actually giving benefit to the patient. Obviously if the normal medications are not working then there is a role for this medication but not I think as a first choice.
Interesting. My doctors were keen for me to take a blood pressure tablet. I was less keen. Then nurse suggested I monitor for 2 weeks twice daily. I did this (had to buy own machine) and have perfect blood pressure. Would have been unwanted/unnecessary medication if hadn’t monitored myself!!
My Hun, taking 3 different pills a day for his blood pressure he would be happy to just take 1 pill to have improvement instead of taking 3 very interesting to know thanks 2 greys 👍😁
I never had any high blood pressure issues until after transplant. It seems to be a common issue with transplant patients. And now two years post it seems to be going the other way. Reading at 97/67 in the morning is not unusual. I am still on blood pressure medication and perhaps I shouldn't be. 🤔 Thanks for the post.
I think I need to talk to my doctor, yes. I just looked at my records from last year and my bp was just as low last August and slowly rose in September. I think it must be the heat. Thank you Hidden . xx 👋😃
Very interested in this new med. My BP was very high and only discovered due to my GP having heard rattles or whatever it was in my chest. Saw a cardiologist who started me on 5mg amlodipine daily. My BP still too high after a month so now on 10mg daily. I’ve never felt as poorly as I do now. I’ve got awful skin issues with lichen simplex and shingles all at the same time. I do wonder if it’s the meds causing this.
I didn’t realise hypertension was so hard to control!
Very interesting and i hooe it will be adopted in the UK soon. I am on 3 very low dose different pills for BP. That has worked for me aa high dose of one or 2 has never controlled that pesky BP. It took experimenting with a younger GP to get to that point as i found the other older generation gps were not keen on the idea
What is the name of this 4-in-one drug, so I can tell my cardiologist. Having been on various bp medications, I’m now taking a simple diuretic, I.e. hydrochlothiazide 12.5 mg. once a day. My bp has been stabilized - 120/70 now for about 6 mos. Had this been prescribed initially, it would have saved time & money. Diuretics are usually the first prescribed but I guess big pharma encourages doctors to use their products first! Hope this might be helpful.
You will have to wait a little longer, it has only just finished the first stage of trials, impressive results so far though it has to do further trials.
I take Amlodipine Candesartan and Atorvastatin and they work but one thing no one told me was how much better my results were when it was summertime and I’d had fruit drink not caffeinated tea ! So obvious when I think about it so now I drink less caffeine 👍🏻👍🏻
Hello 2greys I am on ramipril capsules and was on 2.5mg and for the pass few months my blood pressure was high went back to doctors on Tuesday and she want me to do a blood test had it done yesterday and today get a phone call from my doctor saying I got high hyperkalemia and I would like to know more on this please he said it was 5.8 I only went because I suffer from bronchiectasis and throught I had chest infection
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