$Unique_ID{BRK00167}
$Pretitle{Circulatory System}
$Title{Why are Old Water Pills "No Good" for My High Blood Pressure?}
$Subject{water pills medication}
$Volume{G}
$Log{
Figure 1*0009501.scf
Figure 2*0009601.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Why are Old Water Pills "No Good" for My High Blood Pressure?


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QUESTION:  I have been taking a water pill for my high blood pressure for a 
long time.  However when I went to my new doctor for the first time, he 
changed my medication, merely stating that my old pills were "no good".  I 
never had trouble with this medicine, so could you explain why it should be 
changed?

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ANSWER:  Medicine is constantly changing, discovering new and more effective 
medications, and finding out even more about the older ones.  Your 
"water-pill" or diuretic (promotes the excretion of urine) was most probably a 
chemical called a "thiazide" . For more than thirty years, this class of 
medications was the first choice in treating hypertension, for they were 
effective for most patients, and were inexpensive.  However as time progressed 
and the results of treating hypertensive patients with thiazide diuretics were 
tablulated, it was noted that though strokes were reduced in these patients, 
there was no decrease in the number of heart related disease that should also 
have diminished.  It has been shown that total and low density lipoprotein 
(LDL) increased in these patients, and could be the factor increasing cardiac 
disease risk.  Since newer drugs now exist that can do the job of lowering 
blood pressure, and reducing cardiac risks, many physicians are re-evaluating 
their use of this medication in their patients.  However, the thiazide 
diuretics have been extremely effective, for many patients over an extremely 
long period of time, and some of the less desirable characteristics can be 
overcome by simple adjustments in diet, for example.  In your case, it would 
seem that your new physician has decided a change was best for you, a 
situation that may not be the case in other individuals successfully 
controlled by waterpills.  Their doctors may choose not to repair what is not 
broken.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
