Monday, February 6, 2012

Hypertension Meds Raise Blood Pressure in Some Patients

(HealthScout) UPDATED 2010-08-25
New research published in the American Journal of Hypertension suggests that some commonly used prescription blood pressure medications actually raise blood pressure in some patients. In the study of more than 900 hypertension patients, researchers gave the patients either a calcium channel blocker or diuretic (a "V" drug that lowers blood volume), or a beta blocker or ace inhibitor (an "R" drug that lowers the kidney enzyme renin). The researchers found that 16 percent of the patients who experienced a blood pressure rise during the study were among those had low renin levels and were given an "R" drug. The scientists say their finding suggests that doctors should use renin levels to predict the best first-drug option to use in treating patients with hypertension.  Read full story >
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