A recent European study has raised concerns about a popular drug used to treat high blood pressure—nifedipine—after finding that taking high doses may increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Sudden cardiac arrest is a dangerous condition where the heart suddenly stops pumping blood. It often happens without warning and can be fatal within minutes unless the person receives immediate medical help, such as CPR or a shock from a defibrillator. In Europe, sudden cardiac arrest causes about half of all heart-related deaths and one in five natural deaths overall.
The study focused on two common medications: nifedipine and amlodipine. These drugs help treat high blood pressure and chest pain by relaxing blood vessels and improving blood flow. Both medications have been widely used around the world for many years and are generally seen as safe.
To investigate possible risks, researchers looked at health data from 2,503 people in Amsterdam who had experienced sudden cardiac arrest. They compared this group to over 10,000 healthy people.
The results showed that those who were taking a high dose of nifedipine—60 milligrams per day—were more likely to suffer from sudden cardiac arrest than people who weren’t using the drug.
To make sure the results weren’t just a coincidence, the researchers also studied a second group of people in Denmark. This included over 8,000 patients with sudden cardiac arrest and more than 40,000 healthy individuals. The Danish data showed the same pattern: a link between high-dose nifedipine and an increased risk of the heart suddenly stopping.
Interestingly, the other drug in the study, amlodipine, did not show the same risk. This was surprising because both drugs are very similar and have been trusted treatments for decades.
One reason this connection may not have been seen before is because sudden cardiac arrest is difficult to study. It happens so fast and often ends in death, making it hard to collect useful data from patients.
While the findings are concerning, experts are urging people not to panic or stop taking their medication without speaking to their doctor. High blood pressure itself can be very dangerous if left untreated.
Instead, patients should talk with their doctors to discuss whether a lower dose or a different medication might be a safer choice, especially if they are at higher risk for heart problems.
This study is a reminder that even long-standing medications can have risks we don’t fully understand yet. Ongoing research helps improve the way we treat common health conditions like high blood pressure, and sometimes new discoveries change what we thought we knew.
For now, doctors may want to be more cautious when prescribing high doses of nifedipine. Patients should also be aware of warning signs like chest pain, shortness of breath, or nausea, and seek help quickly if they experience these symptoms.
The key message from this study is not to avoid nifedipine altogether, but to use it wisely. Talking openly with your doctor and staying informed about your medications is the best way to stay safe while keeping your blood pressure under control. Further research will help confirm these findings and guide future treatment decisions.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
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