Single blood pressure pill could save countless lives with new treatment plan, research finds

New research has unearthed what could be a staggering treatment for high blood pressure by combining multiple existing medications

A single tablet could offer a revolutionary new treatment path for people suffering from hypertension, new research has revealed. Presenting their findings at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in London last week, the Australian team highlighted a specific combination of existing treatments and medications that have shown incredible results.

It works by combining several crucial hypertension treatments into one pill with one example being a single tablet that contains telmisartan, amlodipine and indapamide, all of which are currently used individually to treat hypertension. The research showed this combined approach was more effective than standard treatments in the early stages of their condition and patients didn’t suffer from side effects.

Dr Anthony Rodgers from The George Institute for Global Health in Sydney, which is developing the new treatment, shared: “We are suggesting a completely different concept. Convenience and adherence will be an added advantage, but there's more to it than that. It's about combining the different mechanisms of three separate drug classes to get a better (result) and being able to do this right from the start of treatment in patients with mildly elevated blood pressure, as well as those with higher levels.”

This treatment could potentially save countless lives across the globe as, according to the WHO, raised blood pressure is estimated to cause around 7.5 million deaths worldwide each year. Hypertension is incredibly common, affecting over 30% of the global adult population, and although it can be fatal if left untreated, many patients admittedly sometimes forget to take their prescribed medications.

Blood Pressure UK notes that patients often take between 3 to 4 medications to manage their condition, with some taking 5 or more on a daily basis and the exact types that work for people are usually found through “a bit of trial and error”. Symptoms of high blood pressure can include headaches, blurred vision and chest pains but it often goes undetected until it sparks a health crisis such as a stroke or heart attack.