Lotrel
Twofers --pills that include more than one blood-pressure lowering medication-- are a good choice for the treatment of hypertension even when the patient's blood pressure is not that hyper. Not only does the combo form eliminate one prescription co-pay and improve patient compliance, attacking hypertension with two different therapeutic approaches often achieves better control.
A popular and effective twofer pill called Lotrel has now become one of those 'stop the study' pills--therapy so effective that they stopped the study as it was no longer ethical to withhold the drug from the control group. This medication, now available in some strengths as a generic, combines an ACE online pharmacy called benazepril (Lotensin) with a calcium channel blocker called amlodipine (Norvasc). Each of these drugs works in a different way to cause relaxation of the blood vessel walls. As a result, the same fluid volume (that would be the circulating blood) moves through a larger space causing a drop in pressure.
Here's what the Avoiding Cardiovascular events through Combination therapy in Patients Living with Systolic Hypertension (ACCOMPLISH) trial accomplished. Over 11,000 hypertensive subjects, all of whom were over 55, obese, and many were diabetic were put on one of two different twofer drugs: Lotrel or lotensin plus a diuretic. Those patients who took Lotrel were 20% less likely to end up with a stroke, heart attack, unstable angina, or a need for procedures to open their coronary arteries over the first 3 years of the study. These results were highly significant in this high risk group, and may well change our standard protocols for treating hypertension which has, until now, started with a diuretic then added on an ACE inhibitor.
Per ACCOMPLISH investigator Dr. Michael Weber: Right now, there is a recommendation that when you're putting together combination treatment for hypertension you need to normally include a diuretic as one of the two agents. I'm sure that recommendation will change.
My medical partner and I have long been impressed with the efficacy of Lotrel in hypertension control.
A popular and effective twofer pill called Lotrel has now become one of those 'stop the study' pills--therapy so effective that they stopped the study as it was no longer ethical to withhold the drug from the control group. This medication, now available in some strengths as a generic, combines an ACE online pharmacy called benazepril (Lotensin) with a calcium channel blocker called amlodipine (Norvasc). Each of these drugs works in a different way to cause relaxation of the blood vessel walls. As a result, the same fluid volume (that would be the circulating blood) moves through a larger space causing a drop in pressure.
Here's what the Avoiding Cardiovascular events through Combination therapy in Patients Living with Systolic Hypertension (ACCOMPLISH) trial accomplished. Over 11,000 hypertensive subjects, all of whom were over 55, obese, and many were diabetic were put on one of two different twofer drugs: Lotrel or lotensin plus a diuretic. Those patients who took Lotrel were 20% less likely to end up with a stroke, heart attack, unstable angina, or a need for procedures to open their coronary arteries over the first 3 years of the study. These results were highly significant in this high risk group, and may well change our standard protocols for treating hypertension which has, until now, started with a diuretic then added on an ACE inhibitor.
Per ACCOMPLISH investigator Dr. Michael Weber: Right now, there is a recommendation that when you're putting together combination treatment for hypertension you need to normally include a diuretic as one of the two agents. I'm sure that recommendation will change.
My medical partner and I have long been impressed with the efficacy of Lotrel in hypertension control.