News of a multi-pill this morning on the radio, and some research undertaken in Iran which showed a 50% decrease in heart attacks / strokes. . Apparently it contains aspirin, a statin, and two types of blood-pressure reducing medication. It is apparently very cheap but not licenced for use in the UK.
Any thoughts on this? Psychologically I would feel happier about taking just one pill in the morning than the 2 (or 3) I'm taking now.
Professor Jeremy Pearson of the British Heart Foundation said: ‘This study shows that in low- and middle-income countries, where the use of medicines to reduce heart disease risk is low, a single pill combining several drugs is safe and effective. The findings are not transferable to high-income countries where baseline preventive medical care to reduce heart and circulatory disease risk is common.’
Besides this, I wonder about all the people who have to change either statins or blood pressure drugs to achieve a good balance of drugs with minimum side effects. With a polypill you cannot tweak individual dosages.... just a couple of initial thoughts. This study appears to be about compliance - easier to get people to take one pill rather than four daily.
Calliope153 makes several good points. This poly-pill is a cardiac equivalent of a multi-vitamin - no more, no less! We are fortunate to live in a country where medication can be tailored to out needs. Since my bypass I take aspirin, Atorvastatin, Bisoprolol andi lisinopril. Apart from aspirin all the others are available in a number of doses which equates to around 120 combinations before bringing in pill cutting and split doses. Yes, it is a good development for places like Iran but in the UK and similar countries treatment can be more targeted and specific. I don't understand the difference between taking one tablet or half-a-dozen but being on MDI (multiple daily injections) of insulin taking a few tablets is a walk-in-the-park! 🐕
Would I be correct in thinking that the multi-pill was a preventitive in the same way that aspirin and statins are in this country? Rather than treatment for an existing condition?
Yes! The BP component is quite low dose to prevent hypotension in unchecked individuals.
So at a low dose there might not be many side-effects?
I can see that doses are managed very carefully over here to reduce side-effects to a minimum but as a preventitive maybe a low-dose multipill would do for people who have minimal symptoms but are considered at risk. Like me, i think.
I was told at a hypertension centre that I'm not truly hypertensive but just have peaks so I got more than the usual side effects from the meds prescribed.
No no no no 😱 My old GP told me if they tried to get a licence for Aspirin now, it’d never happen! How could you adjust the dose of one constituent??? Have we become an nation of pill poppers?? What about all the side effects?? I don’t want to take the pills I have to at the moment. We should question the drs and consultants as to why we need it, what it does AND all the side effects!
The body’s immune system, liver, stomach and intestines has to cope with all these chemicals. 😱
Pills are not treating the causes, putting plasters on the results
I'd rather take no pills at all myself and it sometimes seems to me that it's the automatic reaction of the medical profession to give you medication. But then again they are far more experienced in heart conditions than we the patients are. So as a result I'm in two minds about it. I just know that psychologically I'd be happier just taking one pill a day rather than a handful.
There was a time when we had a load of natural remedies and no pills and, guess what, we died a lot earlier. I guess it’s a question of choice but I know which way my vote goes.
We probably didn’t have the amount of mutated diseases then either.
A lot of drugs have been made from synthesised herbal plants. Yes, I would and do take medication when I have no choice, but we need to remember that big pharma’ only interested in making big money.
I do not believe in taking multi combined medication, the immune system and digestive systems also liver and kidneys have to detox our bodies.
Not my experience of people I know who research for pharmaceutical companies.
Not mine - see my reply to LaceyLady...
Naturally if they are paid to research for them
I worked for ICI (Plastics) when it has a Pharmaceuticals Division. They did a lot of research in developing drugs like beta blockers and ACE inhibitors (e.g. lisinopril). Yes a company had to make a profit but it is not Big Pharma out to rip everybody off - developing and trailing a new drug costs a fortune and nobody wants another Thymidolide disaster!
Many herbal remedies can damage organs in excess - just because they are herbal does not make them safe!
Thank you for some sense Michael - husband, me and our oldest son have all spent years in Big Pharma, which is staffed by huge numbers of hard-working, dedicated people.
Try ondansetron not being around for post-op vomiting, or no meds for AIDS, or no Ventolin or Serevent for asthma. I'm not against complementary medicine, but it has limited value in serious conditions.
This preventive one combines four medications including two BP meds there has been a triple pill around for at least eight years with one BP med, aspirin and statin. It was a project started by Professor Thom at Imperial College at the time I was trying to get on a trial for a new BP treatment. I wasn't suitable for the trial but he did find that I had aortic stenosis and needed my valve replaced. So I did at least benefit from seeing him.
Vitamin B and stents 
pill in pocket for atrial fribullation 
chest tightness
When to take aspirin
Angioplasty Tomorrow
