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27/11/2013
Salt In Medication Poses Health Risk - Study Finds
The high salt content of some soluble painkiller could pose a health risk, researchers have claimed.
Research published in the British Medical Journal claims that some formulations, when taken at maximum dosage, can tip users over the recommended daily intake of sodium for an adult.
It is understood that researchers looked at the outcomes for 1.2 million UK patients, finding a link between effervescent tablets and heart attacks and stroke.
Researchers compared the results of patients regularly taking the same medication, with and without salt. They claim that those regularly taking the tablets that contain salt increase their risk of heart attack and stroke.
They were also seven times more likely to develop high blood pressure or hypertension, which the researchers say is at the root of the problem.
So-called effervescent medicines contain bicarbonate, which helps them fizz and dissolve.
Twenty four different prescribed effervescent medicines were looked at it the study, which found that sodium levels varied from 3mmol to 18mmol.
This mean that someone taking the full recommended daily dosage of eight tablets would ingest 148.8mmol of sodium. The daily recommended for sodium intake is 104mmol per day.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), who review the safety of all licensed medicines, has said that it will carefully review the study's finding.
(MH/CD)
Research published in the British Medical Journal claims that some formulations, when taken at maximum dosage, can tip users over the recommended daily intake of sodium for an adult.
It is understood that researchers looked at the outcomes for 1.2 million UK patients, finding a link between effervescent tablets and heart attacks and stroke.
Researchers compared the results of patients regularly taking the same medication, with and without salt. They claim that those regularly taking the tablets that contain salt increase their risk of heart attack and stroke.
They were also seven times more likely to develop high blood pressure or hypertension, which the researchers say is at the root of the problem.
So-called effervescent medicines contain bicarbonate, which helps them fizz and dissolve.
Twenty four different prescribed effervescent medicines were looked at it the study, which found that sodium levels varied from 3mmol to 18mmol.
This mean that someone taking the full recommended daily dosage of eight tablets would ingest 148.8mmol of sodium. The daily recommended for sodium intake is 104mmol per day.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), who review the safety of all licensed medicines, has said that it will carefully review the study's finding.
(MH/CD)
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