Medication options
More information
Blood pressure medication decision aid
Australian guidelines recommend blood pressure-lowing medication for those at high risk. It may also be recommended for moderate risk if you have extra risk factors or if lifestyle change is not effective after 3-6 months. This involves taking a pill every day for as long as you and your doctor agree that the benefits outweigh the harms.
The main medications used are:
- ACE inhibitor
- Angiotensin Receptor Blocker
- Calcium Channel Blocker
- Low dose thiazide or thiazide-like diuretic
Benefits
Harm
Take action:
Start blood pressure medication
79 in 1000 people have a CVD event while taking a blood pressure lowering medication compared to 82 in 1000 taking a placebo pill.
Hypotension (low blood pressure) – 14 in 1000 aiming for <140mm Hg may present with hypotension compared to 23 in 1000 aiming for <120mm Hg.
Syncope (Fainting) – 17 in 1000 aiming for <140mm Hg may present with hypotension compared to 23 in 1000 aiming for <120mm Hg.
Acute kidney injury / renal failure – 25 in 1000 aiming for <140mm Hg may present with hypotension compared to 41 in 1000 aiming for <120mm Hg.
Do nothing:
Don’t take medication
You will not be at risk of the side effects of taking medication.
Your CVD risk will continue to increase as you age if no other actions are taken to reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol.
Cholesterol medication decision aid
Australian guidelines recommend cholesterol lowering medication for those at high risk. It may also be recommended for moderate risk if you have extra risk factors or if lifestyle change is not effective after 3-6 months. This involves taking a pill every day for as long as you and your doctor agree that the benefits outweigh the harms.
The dose and type of medication may need to be adjusted depending how well you tolerate the initial pill, and what effects this has on your LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol the “bad” cholesterol. The most common type is called Statin.
Benefits
Harm
Take action:
Start cholesterol medication
92 in 1000 people have a CVD event while taking statin compared to 122 in 1000 taking a placebo pill.
17 in 1000 people have a stroke event while taking statin compared to 22 in 1000 taking a placebo pill.
Cost: Recurring cost for daily pill.
Side effects: Commonly reported events include muscle aches, arthritis, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, elevated liver enzymes, kidney disorders and rhabdomyolysis (serious muscle injury), but the rates are about the same for statins vs placebo. 24 in 1000 people may develop diabetes when on statin compared to 28 in 1000 on a placebo pill. You may also need to have your liver monitored (via a blood sample) for a couple of months when you first start statin.
Do nothing:
Don’t take medication
You will not be at risk of the side effects of taking medication.
Your CVD risk will continue to increase as you age if no other actions are taken to reduce your cholesterol.