“We strongly recommend restrictions in the use of thiazolidinediones (the class of drugs) and question the rationale for leaving rosiglitazone on the market,” write Sonal Singh, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of internal medicine, and Curt D. Furberg, M.D., Ph.D., professor of public health sciences. Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone are the two major thiazolidinediones.

What are the drugs being above mentioned? Actos and Avandia. If you take these medications please talk to your physician if you have any concerns or questions.  Remember, you need the risk factors to be affected in a negative way.

via Wake Forest 

Post from: Blisstree

Actos and Avandia being linked to increased heart failure

• CADUET can be taken anytime, day or night, with or without food.

• CADUET offers every dose combination of Norvasc and Lipitor for flexible dosing options (excluding 1 combination: CADUET 2.5 mg/80 mg).
• CADUET is available on many managed care plans nationwide.

It is like killing 2 birds with 1 stone.. And one of my first thoughts was that there would be only 1 co-pay instead of 2. That is a bonus, huh? Ask your doctor about giving it a try if you are on both Norvasc and Lipitor. Has anyone out there tried it?  Or do you know someone that has? How did you make out? Let me know…

via Caduet Official Site

Post from: Blisstree

Caduet being prescribed more often- benefit of advertising?

The American Academy of Pediatrics, however, believes that the drugs, which are used by millions of adults worldwide, could benefit thousands more children who are already obese, or showing signs of high blood pressure or type II diabetes.

Many UK docs do not agree with this decision and state that this is being used in place of a good diet and exercise. What do you think- would you place your child on a statin or is your child already taking a cholesterol lowering medication?

via BBC 

Post from: Blisstree

Children being prescribed statins in US as young as 8

 “Most people aren’t surprised that methamphetamines and amphetamines are bad for your health,” Dr. Westover said. “But we are concerned because heart attacks in the young are rare and can be very debilitating or deadly.”

The abuse of methamphetamin is increasing in most major U.S. cities. So scary indeed. Talk to your kids, scare your kids, reason with them- do whatever it takes to keep them from being a statistic.

via Science Daily

Post from: Blisstree

Amphetamines linked to heart attacks among young adults

A study based at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston provides added justification that a thiazide-type diuretic is the best first-choice drug for hypertensive patients.

This is quite interesting as I was just debating this earlier in the day with a physician I work with. I think there are definite indications that prove to show how helpful a diuretic is in combating high blood pressure.

These drugs are generally well tolerated and inexpensive for the patient. And the medications have a duel purpose, fluid as well as lowering ones pressure.

via Science Daily

Post from: Blisstree

Diuretics can be used as first line of defense against high blood pressure

It is important to note that there is a huge difference between uncontrolled and resistant blood pressure. Uncontrolled is when the treatment is not effective and there needs to be more lifestyle changes or more adequate adjustments.

There are many underused types of medications and treatments that hypertension specialists would have a leg up on.

Diuretics are often underused in people with resistant hypertension, and some patients may benefit from adding mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) to their treatment regimens, according to the statement. MRAs treat a condition called primary aldosteronism, which is found in about 20 percent of patients with resistant hypertension.

The bottom line is that you as well as your doctor need to keep up on your blood pressure changes, treatment and keep a log of your lifestyle changes. You need to know if your blood pressure is truly controlled or if it is resistant and if so… seek a hypertension specialist. Persons with resistant high blood pressure have more complications and health issues and why not nip it in the bud, right?

Post from: Blisstree

Guidelines noted for resistant high blood pressure- from the American Heart Association

Researchers have found that a drug that is used in cases of angina can safely help to treat QT syndrome…

In the current, pilot study, researchers found that a drug, ranolazine (brand name Ranexa, CV Therapeutics) shortens the QT interval by about 5 percent; just enough to reduce symptoms and risks associated with one form of LQTS (LQT3-deltaKPQ)

What happens in long QT syndrome? Changes to ion channels cause channel proteins to leak charged particles which alters the timing of the heartbeat. Isn’t it really crazy how our body functions- amazing!

The drug in the pilot study, Ranolazine, was found to block late sodium ion current in those patients with mutations of the long QT in these circumstances.

via Science Daily 

University of Rochester 

Post from: Blisstree

Angina drug proves to treat long QT syndrome

Heart failure patients are routinely given beta-blockers, although doctors do not know exactly how these drugs boost cardiac performance and reduce the risk of death. The UCL study, based on the rat model of postmyocardial infarction-induced heart failure and published in the journal Circulation Research, has discovered that the beta-adrenoceptor blocker metoprolol acts directly in the brain to slow the progression of heart failure. The action seems to be localised to a group of brain cells that UCL researchers have identified previously as being crucial in the control of blood pressure and heart rate.

Will this provide more research to examine treating other cardiac disease at the central nervous system level? I think so. Here is to the future of cardiac medication- absolutely amazing!

via Univ College London 

Post from: Blisstree

Beta-blockers treat heart failure at brain level

In the new study, Alberto Gasco and colleagues designed a new form of aspirin by attaching a special chemical structure — called a nitrooxy-acyl group — that allows the drug to resist breakdown by stomach acidity while promoting its absorption by the blood.

The results were positive among the mice that were used.  Time will tell, but I am in hopes for this to pan out!

via American Chemical Society 

Post from: Blisstree

New aspirin type substance to fight a safer battle with heart disease

Dr. Janet Woodcock, head of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said the contaminant is oversulfated condroitin sulfate, a chemical that does not occur naturally. Condroitin sulfate is a natural compound that occurs widely and is used as a dietary supplement but the oversulfated version has not been widely studied. “We cannot rule in or out whether this was accidentally or deliberately introduced into the product,” Woodcock said, “We are investigating how it got in.”

The lots were marketed by Baxter International and China has given full cooperation in getting to the bottom of this. Does this make you nervous? Do events like this frighten you into not wanting to comply to medication?

More to come as this is updated…

via Comcast.net

Post from: Blisstree

Heparin in the middle of controversy again…from China