A new European study has found that a common blood pressure drug, when taken in high doses, may increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest — a serious condition where the heart suddenly stops beating.
This warning comes from the European Sudden Cardiac Arrest network, which looked closely at two medications often used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain.
The condition they studied, sudden cardiac arrest, is different from a heart attack. It happens without warning and causes the heart to stop beating entirely, cutting off blood flow to the brain and other parts of the body.
If not treated right away, usually with CPR or a defibrillator, it can lead to death within minutes. It is responsible for about half of all heart-related deaths in Europe, and one out of every five natural deaths.
The researchers focused on two drugs: nifedipine and amlodipine. Both are commonly prescribed and belong to the same class of medications.
These drugs work by relaxing the blood vessels so the heart doesn’t have to work as hard to pump blood. They have been used for many years to help people with high blood pressure or chest pain, and have generally been considered safe.
However, the researchers found something unexpected. People who took high doses of nifedipine appeared to have a higher chance of experiencing sudden cardiac arrest compared to those who didn’t use the drug or took lower doses. Interestingly, the other drug studied — amlodipine — did not show the same risk.
This finding was surprising to the scientists because both drugs are similar and have been used safely for decades. But until now, no study had found this kind of link, likely because sudden cardiac arrest happens so quickly that it’s hard to collect clear data about what causes it.
The researchers used health records from thousands of people to compare patients who had sudden cardiac arrest with those who did not. After analyzing the data, they noticed a pattern: the higher the dose of nifedipine, the greater the risk.
Despite this result, the scientists are urging caution, not panic. They stress that more research is needed to confirm the link between nifedipine and sudden cardiac arrest. This study does not prove that the drug directly causes the condition, but it raises important questions.
For now, patients taking nifedipine should not stop using it suddenly, as that could be dangerous too. Instead, they should talk to their doctor if they are worried. People who are on high doses of the drug, especially those who also have heart problems, should be extra careful.
If they notice symptoms like chest pain, trouble breathing, or feeling sick, they should seek medical advice quickly, as these can be warning signs of heart trouble.
Doctors, in the meantime, may want to think twice before prescribing high doses of nifedipine, especially if other options are available. They might consider using lower doses or switching to a different medicine, like amlodipine, which did not show the same risk in this study.
The study reminds us that even long-used medicines should be re-examined as science and technology improve. Our understanding of the body and how drugs work is always growing. Continued research like this helps doctors make better decisions and keeps patients safer.
In summary, while nifedipine remains a helpful drug for many people, using it at high doses may carry risks that need to be better understood. Patients and doctors should work together to ensure treatments are safe, effective, and suited to each person’s needs.
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