http://tinyurl.com/3sqv9

One of the hottest-selling drugs for treating high blood pressure
actually may increase the risk of heart attacks, Canadian researchers
say.

Their article, published in the British Medical Journal, warns that
although angiotensin II receptor blockers, or ARBs, reduce blood
pressure, they do not reduce the risk of heart attack.

In fact, ARBs appear to increase the risk by almost 20 per cent.

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They found that ARBs and ACE inhibitors reduce blood pressure equally
well. But ACE inhibitors reduce the risk of heart attack by about 20
per cent, while ARBs do not reduce the risk at all and, in some
instances, increase it. The likelihood of dying from a heart attack,
however, did not increase in patients taking ARBs.

Dr. Strauss said there is a widespread assumption that because ARBs
and ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure effectively, they work in an
identical manner. But there is growing evidence that is not the case,
he said. "We've had a really simplistic view about the mechanistic
differences between these two classes of drugs."

There are a number of ARBs on the market. They include valsartan, sold
under the brand name Diovan; irbesartan (Avapro), candesartan
(Atacand), and losartan (Cozaar).