Hyderabad: A triple pill combination for hypertension has shown 77 per cent results compared to the standard care in low and middle income groups where compliance of medicines is a serious problem according to a study published in JAMA. While the risk versus benefits ratio has shown that of the 700 patients in the mean age of 56 years, 67 per cent had good results while 38.1 per cent of the patients had severe side effects.
The study showed that triple pill combination of 20 mg telmisartn, 2.5 mg of amlodipine and 12.5 mg of cholrthalidone when consumed was effective in controlling hypertension. The reason for this triple combination of the drugs was the compliance levels of the patients who do not regularly take medicines and also the side-effects of monotherapy where it was found that the effects were undesirable.
The adverse effects noticed were musculoskeletal pain, dizziness, and severe headaches. This was found in 38.1 per cent patients which means that there is a need for more trials of this triple drug combination before taking it to a larger population.
Dr C.V.S. Ram, senior consultant for blood pressure management at Apollo Hospitals, explained, “In treating blood pressure, it has often been found that no single size fits all. It has to be individualised treatment as there are regional and cultural differences and different ground realities.
This makes it very important for the treating doctor to diagnose properly and recommend on the benefit to risk ratio either therapeutic or prescribed medicines. It is also important for patients to check with their physician whether the same medicine can be continued for years. This is important, task as it does require changes from time to time.”
The recent guidelines by American Heart Association have redefined hypertension as blood pressure 120/80 mm hg. There are 140 million people in India suffering from hypertension presently and the numbers are expected to go up to 214 million in the next 10 years.
