A new study from Europe has found that taking high doses of a common blood pressure medicine called nifedipine may increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
This finding has surprised many because nifedipine has been used safely by millions of people for many years.
Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating. It is a serious emergency that often leads to death if not treated right away. In Europe, sudden cardiac arrest causes about half of all deaths related to the heart and one in every five natural deaths.
Some people may feel chest pain or have trouble breathing before it happens, but for many, there are no warning signs. The person may collapse and stop breathing. At that moment, only quick action like CPR or using a defibrillator can save their life.
In this study, researchers looked at two popular drugs used to treat high blood pressure—nifedipine and amlodipine. Both drugs help relax blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow. These medicines are used all over the world and are generally seen as safe.
The researchers studied 2,503 people in Amsterdam who had experienced sudden cardiac arrest. They compared these people to over 10,000 people who had not.
What they found was that those who took high doses of nifedipine—60 milligrams a day—were more likely to suffer from sudden cardiac arrest. On the other hand, people taking amlodipine did not show the same risk.
To be sure of their results, the researchers checked another large group in Denmark. This study included over 8,000 patients and more than 40,000 people who had not suffered cardiac arrest. Again, the results showed that high doses of nifedipine were linked to a greater risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
This was unexpected because nifedipine has been trusted by doctors for decades to help control high blood pressure and treat chest pain. One reason this risk may have gone unnoticed until now is that sudden cardiac arrest is very hard to study. It happens quickly and often results in death, so collecting good information about it is difficult.
Still, the researchers believe it’s important to be careful. They are not saying that everyone should stop taking nifedipine. In fact, stopping blood pressure medicine suddenly without talking to a doctor can be very dangerous.
Instead, they suggest that patients who take nifedipine—especially at higher doses—should talk with their doctors. It may be safer for some people to lower the dose or switch to a different medicine like amlodipine.
This study is a good reminder of why it’s important to keep studying even the medicines we’ve used for a long time. As we learn more, we can improve how we treat people and keep them safer.
In short, high doses of nifedipine may raise the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. While more research is needed to confirm this, it is wise for patients to stay informed and speak with their doctor about any concerns. Treating high blood pressure is important, but the treatment itself should not create new dangers.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about blood pressure drug that may increase risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and these teas could help reduce high blood pressure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about nutrient that could strongly lower high blood pressure, and results showing this novel antioxidant may help reverse blood vessels aging by 20 years.
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