Commonly Prescribed Blood Pressure Meds Shouldn't be Combined

Commonly combined blood pressure drugs shouldn't be taken together

THE CANADIAN PRESS

16/01/2009 12:49:00 PM

TORONTO - A commonly prescribed combination of blood pressure drugs should not be taken together, the Heart and Stroke Foundation warned Friday in updated blood pressure management guidelines.

The new advice is based on the results of a large Canadian-led trial that found combining a so-called ACE inhibitor with an angiotensin receptor blocker actually increases the user's risk of sudden cardiac death, kidney disease and the need for dialysis.

"These two popular categories of hypertension medication are each safe and effective treatments - but not together," said Dr. Sheldon Tobe, a Heart and Stroke spokesperson and an executive member of the committee that revised the blood pressure management guidelines.

As many as 175,000 Canadians with high blood pressure may be currently taking the combination of the two medications, the group said in a statement.

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