Friday, March 14, 2008

A Pill With Dual Compounds To Treat Hypertension!

A new drug has been approved by Food Drug Administration (FDA) on January 21, 2008 with dual compounds for treating hypertension (high blood pressure), according to a statement made by the manufacturer, Novartis AG.

The new tablets contain a combination of the blood pressure medication aliskiren and water pill hydrochlorothiazide. Aliskiren, approved during March 2007, was sold under the name Tekturna in the United States and as Rasilez everywhere else.

Tekturna targets renin, an enzyme responsible for high blood pressure. The newly approved version with the name of Tekturna HCT also includes hydrochlorothiazide, a compound that inhibits the kidney’s ability to retain water. Helping the body get rid of unneeded water and salt in the urine, it was among the first high blood pressure treatments, as removing fluid helps control blood pressure. It has been commonly prescribed by doctors to patients for treating hypertension.

Tekturna HCT tablets, available in early February 2008, are intended for patients whose blood pressure has not been controlled by a single drug.

Data shows that high blood pressure affects nearly 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. An estimated 70% of these patients are not currently at their target blood pressure level based on established guidelines. Most patients require 2 or more medicines to reach their goal. Single-tablet combination therapies could simply make blood pressure management more convenient for people by reducing the number of pills they take daily.

High blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, and many other medical disorders, and even death. Controlling the blood pressure at the ideal levels becomes very important. However, several studies show that many adults with high blood pressure remained uncontrolled despite treatment. One important reason is that too often doctors fail to treat aggressively enough. According to health experts, a tablet combining the direct renin inhibitor and a diuretic would give doctors a new treatment option to help patients reach their treatment goals.

Nevertheless, when it comes to side effect, there is no exception for Tekturna HCT. The side effects include dizziness, flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, cough, tiredness and skin rashes.

No comments:

Post a Comment