Can A Low-Cost Diuretic Medication Help To Lower Blood Pressure After A Stroke?
Research Highlights: Adding the diuretic medication spironolactone to post-stroke care for adults with uncontrolled high blood pressure resulted in average systolic blood pressure (the top number) that was nearly 8 mm Hg lower at three months compared with usual post-stroke care. Spironolactone is a low-cost diuretic medication (or water pill) that helps the body excrete salt and water to prevent buildup, and it is usually added later in blood pressure treatment, typically when blood pressure stays high despite three other medications. In the REDUCE trial, patients taking spironolactone after a stroke were more likely to reach the recommended blood pressure goal of less than 130/80 mm Hg at three months than those receiving usual post-stroke care. In an exploratory analysis, blood pressure dropped more among people who started spironolactone within three months of their stroke than among those who started it later, researchers said. Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in
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