Some of the most popular blood pressure drugs on the market appear to increase the risk of cancer for patients, according to a study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio.
The researchers analyzed the results of nine studies of blood pressure drugs called angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) and found a significantly increased risk of developing cancer after taking the drugs. The ARB class of drugs includes Diovan, Cozaar, Micardis, and Atacand. The findings of the meta-analysis study are to be published in the medical journal The Lancet.
Dr. Steven Nissen, of the Cleveland Clinic, said the findings of this latest study are “disturbing and provocative.”
The study comes only days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it was evaluating data from two clinical trials in which patients with type 2 diabetes taking the blood pressure drug olmesartan (Benicar) had a higher rate of death from a cardiovascular causes compared to patients taking a placebo. Olmesartan was not studied in the meta-analysis.
More Information: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65C2C120100613