Some Blood-Pressure Drugs Tied to Cancer Risk

wsj ^ | 6/14/10 | PETER LOFTUS

[Nachum]

A new study said that a popular class of antihypertension drugs—including those made by Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Merck & Co. and Novartis AG—is associated with a modestly increased risk of cancer.

The researchers cautioned that the limited data make it impossible to calculate the exact cancer risk for each individual drug in the class, but said the issue should be investigated further. The study was published online Sunday by the Lancet Oncology medical journal.

[Ditter]

Can you give us some names, I don’t want to sign up.

[Nachum]

The study examined drugs known as angiotensin-receptor blockers, or ARBs,

They include blockbusters like Merck's Cozaar and Novartis's Diovan, but much of the data in the new analysis was from use of the drug telmisartan, sold under the brand Micardis by Boehringer Ingelheim.

Thank is all the article gave. But, I believe that they are saying the entire class of drugs may increase cancer risk. Now, as I do a google search, there apparently is another study that suggests it may inhibit cancer risk (the opposite).

[BossLady]

FYI :o

[SteamShovel]

Now, as I do a google search, there apparently is another study that suggests it may inhibit cancer risk (the opposite).

Like the "Coffee is Bad" studies vs the "Coffee is Good studies of years past, we will see these studies go back and forth I'm afraid.

The truth will be fuzzy.

[Ditter]

Uh oh! I take Diovan.

[Nachum]

Yeah, and I take lisinopril, a generic angiotensin-receptor blocker. Not in the study (that I can see) but part of the same family.

The good news is that there are studies that show it inhibits cancer. Not sure what to believe.

[Ditter]

I tried a couple of other blood pressure meds and they caused an uncomfortable reaction so Diovan is the one I'll be taking.

[paterfamilias]

Lisinopril is an ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor.

The angiotensin receptor blockers are the next step down the metabolic pathway.

[Nachum]

Thanks for that!

[DCPatriot]

What about Cozaar?

[Hunton Peck]

I have taken Cozaar (and other ACE and ARB inhibitors) for years, not for hypertension, but to delay diabetes-related kidney failure. When I was first diagnosed with this condition in 1992, my doc said I was on the brink of needing dialysis. Since then, thanks to this class of drugs, I've been consistently trundling along with my test results in a near-normal range, and still have two more-or-less fully-functioning piss processors.

If they were to be banned, I would be seriously . . . annoyed. I'll take a slight risk of cancer over certain kidney failure any day.

[paterfamilias]

Cozaar is an angiotensin receptor blocker. Good drug.

[DCPatriot]

Thanks for any information/opinion on Cozaar.

[mad_as_he$$]

ping

[wayoverthehill]

My dr. took me off of Cozaar after I had an SVT (super ventricular tachycardia) episode last December. My heart was racing wildly for several days at 236 beats per minute. Normal is about 90.

Now I’m on a generic for Toprol (metoprolol) and everything is fine except that it does keep my BP almost too low. I’m not sure what the objection to Cozaar was but since it is a more expensive drug I was glad to switch to a cheaper generic.

[Buddy B]

Go to this Google page:

atacand blood pressure medication - Google Search

and then scroll down to the bottom where there are links to the meds I see posted on this thread.

[neverdem]

Thanks BossLady

[neverdem]

Angiotensin-receptor blockade and risk of cancer: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

FReepmail me if you want on or off the diabetes ping list.

Some diabetics are prescribed angiotensin-receptor blockers. "No statistically significant difference in cancer deaths was observed (1.8% vs 1.6%, RR 1.07, 0.97—1.18; p=0.183)."

[rmlew]

Did the stoudy compare people with high BP who were on these drugs to those not on them or did they compare people on the drugs to the general poulation? If so, the study is BS. People with high BP tend to be in poorer physical health so we would expect higher cancer rates.