Question:
If I have high blood pressure, do thiazide diuretics like chlorthalidone work better than other blood pressure medications in reducing heart attack, heart failure, and stroke?
Answer:
Yes
MedHead Confidence Score: 3
Amount Saved: $25 cost for medical research
MedHead Message:
All these medications (like chlorthalidone, lisinopril, and amlodipine) are cheap; you can get them for less than $20 per month. Chlorthalidone seems to have the best data for reduction in heart failure, heart attack, and stroke than lisinopril or amlodipine. Additionally, it lowered systolic blood pressure more than lisinopril or amlodipine. Talk to your doctor about chlorthalidone or hydrochlorothiazide as the first-line medication for blood pressure.
References:
1. ALLHAT collaborative research group. Major outcomes in high-risk hypertensive patients randomized to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or calcium channel blocker vs diuretic: The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT). JAMA. 2002 Dec 18;288(23):2981-97
