Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 11, 1995 TAG: 9503140051
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Seattle Times
DATELINE: SEATTLE LENGTH: Short
The drug, calcium channel blockers, was found to increase the risk of a heart attack by about 60 percent in a study involving more than 2,600 patients.
``The study raises questions about the long-term safety and efficacy of calcium channel blockers,'' said Bruce Psaty, University of Washington professor of medicine, who directed the research. He reported the study Friday at an annual meeting of the American Heart Association in San Antonio, Texas.
Experts on hypertension estimate that more than 6 million Americans take calcium channel blockers to lower elevated blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks.
Psaty said more study is needed of the drug's effects. The new findings don't pose an emergency for those now taking the drug, but he advised patients taking the medication to discuss it with their physicians. Other drugs to lower blood pressure are available, he said.
Psaty described the 60 percent increase in heart-attack risk this way: Out of 1,000 people being treated for hypertension during one year, 10 would be expected to have heart attacks. If all were taking calcium channel blockers, 16 would be expected to have the attacks.
Product names of some calcium channel blockers include Adalat, Calan, Cardene, Cardizen, Dilacor, DynaCirc, Isoptin, Nimotop, Novasc, Plendil, Procardia, Vascor and Verelan, according to the Physician's Desk Reference.
by CNB