In a nutshell
This study aimed to see if chlorthalidone is effective at lowering blood pressure in patients with poor kidney function.
Some background
The function of the kidney is to filter the blood and remove unnecessary molecules into the urine. When kidney function is low there can be too much or too little of these molecules taken out of the body in the urine. Having high blood pressure increases the 'wear and tear' on the organs of the body. If kidney function is impaired, it is better to have low blood pressure. Having lower blood pressure makes it less likely that kidney function will get worse.
Chlorthalidone (Thalitone) is a very effective long-term treatment for high blood pressure. One of the benefits of chlorthalidone is that it has a longer duration of action then a lot of other anti-hypertensive medications. It can also help to clear excessive sodium from the body. Clearing excessive sodium from the body can help with symptoms such as edema (water retention). However, it is not known whether chlorthalidone is safe and effective in the short-term for patients with low kidney function.
Methods & findings
This study examined the safety and effectiveness of chlorthalidone in patients with both high blood pressure and low kidney function. 120 participants with blood pressure uncontrolled by other treatments were divided into 2 groups. The first group included patients with low kidney function. The second group included patients with normal kidney function. All patients were treated with chlorthalidone for 8 weeks. Each patient also continued the blood pressure medications used prior to the start of the study. Creatinine (a waste product filtered by the kidneys – low levels indicate kidney damage) levels were used to access kidney function.
Chlorthalidone was effective in lowering blood pressure in both groups. Systolic blood pressure (pressure when the heart is contracting) decreased by 19.2 mmHg in those with low kidney function and 21.6 mmHg in those with normal kidney function.
Both groups saw a decrease in average weight. The decrease in weight was larger in the group with poor kidney function (-0.88 kg) compared to those with normal kidney function (-0.22 kg). Creatinine levels increased by 14 mg/dL in the low kidney function group and by 0.07 mg/dL in the normal kidney function group.
Chlorthalidone was generally well tolerated. However, 5 patients left the trial due to low blood pressure.
The bottom line
This study concluded that chlorthalidone was an effective treatment for hypertension in patients with low kidney function. The authors also concluded that it has the added benefit of aiding in weight loss due to water retention.
What’s next?
If you are worried about kidney function, discuss blood pressure treatment options with your physician.
Published By :
Hypertension
Date :
Jan 06, 2014
However, are there deleterious side effects of chlorhiadone?
what is the correct dosage of chlorthiadone. Does t decrease systolic numbers
Does it interact with Norvasc, Losartan,clonidine,Atenolol?
I have been taking chlorthalidone for about 5 years now. I made an appointment with a heart doctor to get his recommendation after having PCPs try this and that. They were ready to give me my third med for BP. The heart doctor said the first dosage would be to try 50mg. but that was more than necessary. So he dropped it to 25mg. Sometimes when I did outside work or was very active I could split the tablet and could take half of that. It has been very good at controlling my BP with no side effects. No swelling, fast or slow beats like a lot of the others they were trying on me. I highly recommend this product. When you get older sometimes as the kidney ages it can be stage 3 just because your body is old and the kidney shows wear, which mine has and this product seems to be keeping it at that stage. My kidney doctor also said this is the best one for me to be on, she is pleased with the results.