Blood pressure drug raises cancer risk

Researchers said an analysis of available data on drugs in the class known as angiotensin-receptor blockers showed patients were 1.2 percent more likely to be diagnosed with a new cancer over four years than others who did not take the drugs. Most patients in the trials (86 percent) took Micardis, which has annual sales of more than $1.5 billion."The increased risk of new cancer occurrence is modest but significant," Dr. Ilke Sipahi and colleagues from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and colleagues wrote in the journal Lancet Oncology.

Dr. Steven Nissen, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, said in a commentary the findings were "disturbing and provocative, raising crucial drug safety questions for practitioners and the regulatory community." He said regulators need to look more closely at the risk of cancer with ARB use and that doctors should be more cautious about prescribing ARBs, and especially Micardis.

Bonnie - does anyone else notice the uptick in side effects of commonly prescribed medication? Is the FDA actually paying attention now? How asinine does it seem for Big Pharma to start paying the public to take these drugs?

There are proven ways to support optimal blood pressure without medication when working with a licensed health professional.