Tekturna-HCTZ combo approved for high blood pressure
Tekturna is a new blood pressure medication on the market. While the studies have shown it to be beneficial, the fact that it is branded (non generic) makes it difficult to have it covered by insurance. Drugstore.com shows the price of Tekturna (30 tablets/ 1 month for 93.27). Whether the patient pays cash or with insurance, this is a lot of money and there are only so many healthcare dollars. Ultimately, the patient pays on either directly or indirectly. Patients should discuss with their physicians whether any of the below medications would be beneficial for their blood pressure as recommended by the JNC VII.
The medications recommended first line by the JNC VII include HCTZ (100 tablets or 3 mos for $15.99), Atenolol (50 mg/ 6 week supply, $12.99), Lisinopril (30 tabs for $12.99), Amlodipine (30 tablets, $52).
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WASHINGTON - Tablets containing a combination of the blood pressure medication aliskiren and water pill hydrochlorothiazide have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the product’s manufacturer, Novartis AG, said Monday.
Sold under the name Tekturna in the United States, the hypertension compound aliskiren was approved last March. It acts by targeting renin, an enzyme responsible for high blood pressure. The newly approved version also includes hydrochlorothiazide, a compound that inhibits the kidney’s ability to retain water. This water pill is commonly used to treat high blood pressure.
Tekturna HCT tablets are intended for patients whose blood pressure has not been controlled by a single drug. They will be available in early February the company said.
Side effects associated with the new combination tablets include dizziness, flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, cough, tiredness and skin rashes.
Attempts to reach FDA officials to confirm the approval were not immediately successful.
Tekturna is known as Rasilez outside of the United States.
The company’s U.S. affiliate Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. is based in East Hanover, N.J.
