AboutCharles Cusumano, FMP, PA-C Expertise I will answer questions about the different causes of Hypertension; the complications; the treatments and the drugs used.Hypertension is a silent, potentially deadly disease that`s completely treatable. Knowledge is power.
Experience Nationally Certified Physician Assistant/Family Medicine Practitioner.
I've been in practice since 1975.
Organizations I am currently serving as an expert in the Family, General and Internal Medicine site right here at AllExperts.com. You can visit my profile there. I was also honored as a Distinguished Fellow in the AAPA.
Follow-Ups to Answer from Expert Charles Cusumano, FMP, PA-C
BB writes on 2007-08-01 02:13:31
Actually Diovan is a great option. In a clinical study done by Novartis Pharm. Diovan starting dose of 160 was compared to a titrated Lisinopril dose of 20mg. Diovan showed simialiar efficacy to Lisinoprils titrated 20mg dosage with far less cough. Out of the 1623 patients involved in this study 7.1% developed cough with lisinopril compared with jsut 1% on Diovan. Another advantage with Diovan is its flexible dosing. They are two starting dosages 80 and 160, primarily the 160s are used more often due to better bp reductions and it has the same tolerability and safety profile as the 80s. along it has 6 other dosaged combining 160 with 12.5mg + 25mg of hctz and as well as 320/12.5, and 320/25 so her physician will have a lot of flexibilty with dosing if her bp goes up. My personal opinion is that Diovan provides Powerfull efficacy..with Proven CV benefits. I wish more dr.s would start patients on diovan, It has great formulary status, but a lot of states push generics, it isreally up to the physician, but it was a great choice to go to Diovan.
