Transcript High Blood Pressure Medicine

WA2: High Blood Pressure Medicine
It can save your life,
but can you afford it?
Welcome to Web Activity #2. This site contains
the instructions and reference information you
will need for the activity. Answers may not be
submitted electronically. Answer the questions
on paper and turn in the assignment in class on
the due date.
In this activity you will be asked to create graphs.
You may use the graphing software of your
choice (Microsoft Excel, for example).
Treatments for High Blood Pressure
• Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US.
• High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for both myocardial
infarction and stroke.
• High blood pressure can be treated with drugs, but these can be
expensive.
• A recent clinical trial involving more than 33,000 patients compared
the efficacy of three different types of blood pressure reducing
drugs. (Major Outcomes of High Risk Hypertensive Patients Randomized to AngiotensinConverting Enzyme Inhibitor or Calcium Channel Blocker vs. Diuretic JAMA 12-18-02, 288;23.
Retrieved online 12-18-03 from http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/288/23/2981.pdf )
– Chlorthalidone, a diuretic. (usual dose 25 mg/day)
– Lisinoprol, an ACE inhibitor, for which there is a generic available.
(usual dose 5 mg/day)
– Amlodipine (Norvasc), a calcium channel blocker for which no generic is
available (5 mg/day)
Your Assignment
• How much would a one year supply of each of
the three drugs cost if you buy your
prescriptions online at Walgreens and do not
have health insurance? Present your answer
as a bar graph.
• Listen to this story from NPR
12-10-03 – Boston to Buy Canadian Drugs
•
What is the annual cost for these three drugs if you purchase
them in Canada at Canadian Drugs Direct? Add a second series of
bars in your graph to compare them to US costs.
References
•
For additional exploration in issues related to this issue from NPR studios:
12-08-03 – Canada Drug Trial
11-20-03 – Medicare Plan Would Ban Canadian Drugs
9-29-03 – Why Canadian Drugs Are Cheaper
8-07-03 - Pfizer Vies to Block Canadian Drug Re-Imports
7-29-03 – Canada Drugs
•
For a free audio player which can be used to listen to the above files go to
http://www.npr.org/audiohelp/audioplayers.html
•
Image one retrieved 12-16-03 from
http://www.canadiandrugsdirect.com/canadian_discount_prescription_drugs.htm
•
Image two retrieved 12-16-03 from
http://www.generic-pharmacy.com/