ARBs - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

CASSIEBEL · 05-23-2004, 05:25 PM

HI ALL
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRANDS OF ARBS.
5 MONTHS AGO I STARTED TAKING MICARDIS HCT 80/12.5 AND HAD POOR RESULTS.
AFTER TRYING SEVERAL OTHER DRUGS WITH NO GOOD RESPONSE MY CARDIOLOGIST GAVE ME SAMPLES OF DIOVAN HCT 80/12.5. THE RESULTS ARE AMAZING! AFTER ONLY 1 WEEK MY #'S ARE DOWN CONSIDERABLY. I THOUGHT ALL ARBs WORKED THE SAME WITH THE SAME ABILITY TO LOWER BP.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE MAY BE ANOTHER REASON OTHER THAN THE DIOVAN?
ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEAS?
THANKS IN ADVANCE
CASSIEBEL

P.S I ALSO TAKE ATENOLOL 50mg

zuzu8 · 05-25-2004, 10:15 AM

Cassiebel,

Although ARBs share a common mechanism of action-antagonism of angiotensin II AT1 receptors, the pharmacokinetics between some of them differ in terms of oral bioavailability, rate of absorption, metabolism, and route and rate of elimination.

Bottom line, studies show they are not all necessarily alike.

So happy to hear you're doing so well on Diovan HCT coupled with the atenolol.

Cheers!
zuzu xxx

zip2play · 05-26-2004, 07:19 AM

Main difference is that the ACE inhibitors block much Angiotensin II production whereas the ARBS only block AngII RECEPION at cardiac specific sites. Best benefit is they leave Ang II alone to regulate bradykinen oroduction and thus don't cause the lung involvement and coughing that ACE's often do.

I'm thrilled (and surprised) you got that response from Diovan 80 (low dose). It's not common but everone reacts differently to these drugs.
Enjoy it.

CASSIEBEL · 05-26-2004, 03:51 PM

Thanks Guys, For The Info
Take Care