Lessening stroke risk

High blood pressure remains the leading risk factor for stroke. Although stroke is multifactorial, reducing the blood pressure in a hypertensive individual is the single most important treatment strategy which can cut down the risk of developing a stroke. A stroke results in permanent damage to the brain tissue and in many cases, permanent disability for the patient.

This is the reason why there is a need for an antihypertensive drug which is not only effective in lowering the blood pressure but can also reduce other complications of hypertension.

One of the drugs which was proven to lessen the risk of stroke among hypertensive patients is losartan. In the landmark Losartan Intervention for Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension (LIFE) trial published in Lancet, the drug reduces the risk of fatal and non-fatal stroke by as much as 25 percent compared to the beta-blocker atenolol.

This cerebrovascular or brain protective benefit in patients treated with losartan was greater than has been observed in trials of varying hypertensive patient populations in comparison to other antihypertensive drugs such as calcium channel blocker, beta-blocker and diuretic.

The affordability of losartan has also been addressed with the recent introduction of a new brand of losartan which has been shown to be bioequivalent as the innovator brand.

The new brand, priced at approximately half the cost of the other brands of this class of drugs, is expected to help patients sustain treatment for their high blood pressure, which is necessary for the patient to enjoy long-term benefits.