Umea University team questions efficacy of atenolol beta blocker
Reuters, November 5, 2004:
"Our results cast doubt on atenolol as a suitable drug for hypertensive patients," Professor Lars Hjalmar Lindholm, of Umea University in Sweden, said in a report in The Lancet medical journal.
Atenolol belongs to a class of drugs known as beta blockers, which are prescribed for high blood pressure, angina and to prevent repeat heart attacks. The drugs help relieve stress on the heart and slow its beat.
Lindholm and his team examined the results of four studies that compared atenolol with a placebo, or dummy pill, and five that contrasted its effects with other blood pressure-lowering drugs.
Atenolol, which is sold under the brand name Tenormin by drug company AstraZeneca, was first introduced in 1976. It has been off patent for many years and most sales now consist of generics rather than the AstraZeneca brand.
The research showed the drug was no better than a placebo in reducing deaths from heart attacks or heart disease. But in one study the drug reduced stroke more than in patients who were not receiving any treatment.
"The main finding was that atenolol could not be shown to have the same preventive effects on cardiovascular disease as other common anti-hypertension drugs," Dr Bo Carlberg, who worked on the study, said in an interview.
"Compared with the placebo, atenolol did not decrease all-cause mortality. It did not decrease cardiovascular mortality and did not decrease myocardial infraction (heart attack)," he added.
AstraZeneca questioned the researchers' interpretation. "We believe the study is inconclusive," a company spokesman said.
"Our results cast doubt on atenolol as a suitable drug for hypertensive patients," Professor Lars Hjalmar Lindholm, of Umea University in Sweden, said in a report in The Lancet medical journal.
Atenolol belongs to a class of drugs known as beta blockers, which are prescribed for high blood pressure, angina and to prevent repeat heart attacks. The drugs help relieve stress on the heart and slow its beat.
Lindholm and his team examined the results of four studies that compared atenolol with a placebo, or dummy pill, and five that contrasted its effects with other blood pressure-lowering drugs.
Atenolol, which is sold under the brand name Tenormin by drug company AstraZeneca, was first introduced in 1976. It has been off patent for many years and most sales now consist of generics rather than the AstraZeneca brand.
The research showed the drug was no better than a placebo in reducing deaths from heart attacks or heart disease. But in one study the drug reduced stroke more than in patients who were not receiving any treatment.
"The main finding was that atenolol could not be shown to have the same preventive effects on cardiovascular disease as other common anti-hypertension drugs," Dr Bo Carlberg, who worked on the study, said in an interview.
"Compared with the placebo, atenolol did not decrease all-cause mortality. It did not decrease cardiovascular mortality and did not decrease myocardial infraction (heart attack)," he added.
AstraZeneca questioned the researchers' interpretation. "We believe the study is inconclusive," a company spokesman said.
posted by Lawrence B. Ebert at 6:00 AM
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