Doctors often prescribe diuretics, a type of medicine that helps the body get rid of extra salt and water, to lower high blood pressure.
Two common diuretics are chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide. For years, chlorthalidone has been recommended as the better choice because it was believed to work more effectively.
However, new research from Columbia University suggests that this may not be the best advice. After studying the health records of over 730,000 people taking these medications for high blood pressure, researchers found surprising results.
The study spanned 17 years and showed that both chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide were equally effective at lowering the risk of serious problems like heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. This was good news for patients taking either medicine.
But when it came to side effects, chlorthalidone had some serious drawbacks. Patients taking chlorthalidone were almost three times more likely to develop low potassium levels in their blood, a condition called hypokalemia.
This isn’t a minor issue—it can cause serious health problems, such as abnormal heart rhythms, confusion, kidney failure, and even diabetes.
Low potassium wasn’t the only problem linked to chlorthalidone. Patients on this drug also faced a higher risk of other imbalances in their blood’s minerals, as well as kidney issues.
Even when taking lower doses, the risks remained higher for chlorthalidone compared to hydrochlorothiazide. This suggests that the medication itself, not just the dosage, plays a role in causing these side effects.
The researchers recommend that doctors monitor patients on chlorthalidone closely to catch these issues early. They also question why chlorthalidone has been the preferred option for so long, given these risks.
Previous studies have also pointed out concerns about chlorthalidone’s safety, highlighting its tendency to cause more mineral imbalances than hydrochlorothiazide. This raises the question of whether current medical guidelines need to be updated.
High blood pressure is a common condition that can lead to serious health problems if untreated, and medication is an important part of managing it. However, this study shows that not all medications work the same way for everyone, and it’s essential to consider both the benefits and the risks.
The findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, remind us of the importance of staying informed and working closely with healthcare providers to choose the best treatment. Regular check-ups and monitoring can help ensure that medications are both effective and safe.
For patients managing high blood pressure, studies like this one offer valuable insight. They show that sometimes, a simpler or less powerful option might actually be safer and just as effective.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and eating eggs in a healthy diet may reduce risks of diabetes, high blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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