Common drugs pose kidney risks: study
Danger in combining blood pressure medsJoanna Frketich
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 17, 2009)
Two popular blood pressure drugs cause kidney damage when used together.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) do more harm than good when combined, concludes a surprising Hamilton study.
The unexpected discovery prompted the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada to warn as many as 175,000 Canadians taking both drugs to go to their family doctor to have their medication changed.
"It's a safety issue," said Dr. Sheldon Tobe, nephrologist and spokesperson for the foundation. "There is no benefit in using the combination but the side effects doubled."
The drugs are safe individually but pose serious risks when taken together, including fainting, diarrhea and dangerously elevated potassium levels that can require dialysis.
Both act on a group of hormones regulated by the kidneys that control long-term blood pressure.
Together they put too much stress on the kidneys, causing damage.
"Our conclusion is, do not use the combination," said Dr. Koon Teo, a lead investigator of the ONTARGET study and a cardiologist at Hamilton Health Sciences.
The findings are featured in new guidelines on treating high blood pressure released yesterday by the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
It deemed the McMaster study of 25,620 patients published in the New England Journal of Medicine in April to be one of the most significant discoveries of the year.
"Definitely we're not going to use the combination now," said Dr. Sean Wharton, internist at HHS. "Two medications is not better than one in this situation."
Despite the danger, anyone taking both drugs is advised to stay on them until seeing a doctor.
"They should not panic," Teo said. "They should discuss that with their doctors."
jfrketich@thespec.com
905-526-3349
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/497852
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