Popular Blood Pressure Medications May Lead to Higher Risk of Cancer
New research recently published in the medical journal, Lancet Oncology, reports that some of the most popular blood pressure pills, such as Micardis, could increase a patient’s risk of cancer. After analyzing five previous studies, scientists found that taking medications known as angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) lead to an increase in cancer. ARBs are typically taken for conditions such as high blood pressure, heart problems and kidney disease from diabetes.
The increase in cancer risk applies to many different types of cancers, including prostate, breast and lung cancer. Some doctors are starting to think twice about prescribing ARBs due to this newfound risk. However, they also state that in some cases the benefits of taking ARBs may outweigh the risks. Because cancer can take years to develop, it is difficult to know if a new drug will hold a cancer risk until after it has been on the market for an extended period of time. At this time, some doctors have called on regulatory agencies such as the FDA to order drug manufacturers to submit more relevant data on drugs in the future and to report their findings immediately. The new research concerning ARBs highlights the phenomenon where the risks of dangerous drugs do not manifest themselves until after the drug has been on the market for an extended period of time.