The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7247 p605
3 May 2003

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MeReC Bulletin (more)

Increasing use of AIIRAs not justified

The increasing use of angiotensin II receptor antagonists (AIIRAs) in primary care is not supported by current clinical evidence, the latest MeReC Bulletin suggests.

The bulletin reviews trial data for AIIRAs and concludes that first-line use of these drugs is not recommended for any indication. "The main place of AIIRAs in therapy remains as alternatives to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors when this class of drugs is clinically indicated but not tolerated," it states.

The bulletin estimates that 10 per cent of patients are truly intolerant of ACE inhibitors but points out that AIIRAs accounted for 17 per cent of total ACE and AIIRA items prescribed in primary care in England in 2001, "more than can be justified for ACE inhibitor intolerance alone".

A copy of the bulletin can be downloaded from the National Prescribing Centre website or via the NHSnet (nww.npc.ppa.nhs.uk).