HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE MAY LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE ABOUT HALF AS MUCH AS OTHER BP MEDICATIONS

Reuters (1/25, Joelving) reports that the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide appears to lower blood pressure approximately half as much as ACE inhibitors or beta blocker medications, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Currently, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends the use of thiazides as a first-line treatment for the reduction of hypertension, based on its own studies. However, the NHLBI studies did not test hydrochlorothiazide. After reviewing 19 randomized studies involving a comparison of hydrochlorothiazide to other blood pressure drugs, researchers found that a commonly prescribed dose of hydrochlorothiazide reduced systolic blood pressure by 6.5 points, compared to a calcium-channel blocker (11 points), an ACE inhibitor (12.9 points), and beta blockers (11.2 points