A recent study published in the journal Function, published by Oxford University Press, presents reassuring findings regarding the safety of amlodipine, a drug widely prescribed for hypertension. Despite recent concerns raised by some researchers and clinicians about potential risks associated with amlodipine, the study concludes that the drug is not harmful to patients.
Hypertension, a condition affecting around 116 million Americans and one in five adults globally, is linked to approximately 700,000 deaths annually in the United States alone. The disease contributes to 7.6 million deaths worldwide each year. Without treatment, hypertension can greatly increase the likelihood of early death due to heart attacks, strokes, or kidney diseases.
Amlodipine’s Role in Treating Hypertension
One widely prescribed drug for treating hypertension is amlodipine, now taken regularly in pill form by over 70 million Americans. Amlodipine inhibits a type of calcium channel that is found on blood vessels. When the calcium channel opens, calcium enters the muscle and causes it to constrict, increasing blood pressure. Amlodipine prevents calcium from coming in, leading to vessel relaxation and a decrease in blood pressure.
Recent Concerns and New Findings
Recently some researchers have questioned the benefit of amlodipine for treating hypertension. Studies suggested that amlodipine may activate a different type of calcium channel, resulting in changes to blood vessels and an increase in heart failure in patients. Removing amlodipine as a prescribed anti-hypertensive medication carries significant health implications, since hypertension is such a common health condition.
A new study by research teams from the
Reference: “A Reappraisal of the Effects of L-type Ca2+ Channel Blockers on Store-Operated Ca2+ Entry and Heart Failure” by Gary S Bird, Diane D’Agostin, Safaa Alsanosi, Stefanie Lip, Sandosh Padmanabhan and Anant B Parekh, 12 October 2023, Function.
DOI: 10.1093/function/zqad047