POLYPILL...

Dear all..This is somewhat introduction to my previous blog "ExforgeHCT". 3 drugs within same pill leads to the concept of Polypill.

Whats a Polypill?
A polypill is dosage form or medication containing two or more active drugs. These are generally made on the intention of reducing the number of tablets or capsules to be taken.

A "polypill" containing three blood-pressure-lowering drugs, as well as a statin and aspirin, could slash the risk of heart attack and stroke in healthy people. That's the implication of a study of 2053 people – the first time a pill containing so many drugs has been tested in a large group of adults. Salim Yusuf at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, and his colleagues tested the five-drug polypill – called Polycap

The pill reduced systolic (peak) blood pressure by 7.4 millimetres of mercury and diastolic (minimum) blood pressure by 5.6 mm Hg over three months.This is similar to when all three blood pressure drugs were given individually.
It also reduced heart rate and blood clotting to a similar degree as aspirin or the beta-blocker atenolol achieve when given individually, and also reduces cholesterol (not as much as statin reduces when its given alone).

The polypill concept is mostly applied to Hypertension because patients suffering from BP are also administered with AntiHyperlipidemic, Antiplatelet drugs. So all the medication is planted within the same pill to increase patient compliance.

Source : www.newscientist.com