What is Tekturna (Aliskiren)? (Part 2)
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Joshua Schwimmer, MD, FACP, FASN
(Diagram reproduced under the GNU Free Documentation License.)Aliskiren is a direct renin inhibitor. Currently, all other agents that inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldsterone system (like ACE inhbitors and angiotensin receptor blockers) increase the levels of renin (through feedback mechanisms). This increased renin can potentially reduce the effectiveness of theese medications. Aliskiren, in contrast, reduces the activity of renin and has the potential to blunt the effects of the increased renin levels caused by other agents.
For lowering blood pressure, aliskiren is indicated as a single agent and in combination with other agents that affect the renin-angiontensin-aldosterone system. The blood pressure reductions with the combination of aliskiren and other medications, in some studies, are greater than the reductions with either agent alone.
In addition, medications that block the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system are particularly important in patients with kidney disease and heart failure. For patients with kidney disease and protein in the urine, medications like ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers have been shown to protect the kidneys and prevent or delay progression of kidney disease. For patients with heart failure, these medications can improve symptoms and reduce mortality.
Whether aliskiren alone or added to other medications is effective and may provide additional protection is unknown.
Studies on aliskiren in patients with heart and kidney disease are ongoing.
For a full description of aliskiren, including potential side effects, see www.tekturna.com.
6 Comments:
At Thu May 17, 08:23:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
Apparently the name Rasilez was rejected by the FDA, as it is too close to another drug name used in the US (an HIV drug, I believe). Novartis is hoping to use the name Rasilez everywhere else in the world (how's that for confusing - Canadians will see the DTC ads on US television, but they will refer to a drug under a different name).
As things stand, initial data suggests that the efficacy is as good as other RAAS-active agents, perhaps slightly better than some of them. The biggest benefit may come from combination therapy, and in cardioprotection / nephroprotection / vascular protection. This is the reason that most CV specialists (anyone who deals with the above issues) are excited at the potential.
Apparently direct renin inhibitors have been around for many years, however oral bioavailability has been a problem. As it stands, Rasilez/Tekturna has the best oral bioavailability of any oral renin inhibitor so far, and it is only in the range of 3.5% (from what I recall).
At Thu May 17, 08:23:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
Apparently the name Rasilez was rejected by the FDA, as it is too close to another drug name used in the US (an HIV drug, I believe). Novartis is hoping to use the name Rasilez everywhere else in the world (how's that for confusing - Canadians will see the DTC ads on US television, but they will refer to a drug under a different name).
As things stand, initial data suggests that the efficacy is as good as other RAAS-active agents, perhaps slightly better than some of them. The biggest benefit may come from combination therapy, and in cardioprotection / nephroprotection / vascular protection. This is the reason that most CV specialists (anyone who deals with the above issues) are excited at the potential.
Apparently direct renin inhibitors have been around for many years, however oral bioavailability has been a problem. As it stands, Rasilez/Tekturna has the best oral bioavailability of any oral renin inhibitor so far, and it is only in the range of 3.5% (from what I recall).
At Thu Aug 23, 04:40:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
I have been taking Tekturna since the beginning of June 2007. This is the 6th different BP medicine that my doctor has tried. The others either did not lower the BP or had nasty side effects. This medicine has lowered my BP back to normal, and both myself and my husband have noticed an increase in my sexual libido. I was wondering if anyone else who has been taking this new medicne is experiencing the same side effect?
At Sat Apr 26, 08:54:00 AM 2008,
Anonymous said…
I have been taking Tekturna for a few months now and have developed tinnitus and ED. Otherwise side effects are far less than the many other drugs I have tried.
At Sat Jun 14, 06:40:00 PM 2008,
Anonymous said…
To anonymous with the tinnitus: How long were you taking tekturna before the tinnitus began, and has it gone away? I suffer from tinnitus and hearing loss (the past three days) and doctors say it can't be the tekturna, but after reading your comment I believe it can be.
At Tue Sep 02, 09:32:00 PM 2008,
Anonymous said…
what other medication are you taking with tekturna? How sure are you that its tekturna thats causing your tinnitus & ED? i have read tekturna's prescribing info and there is no mention of tinnitus and ED. Other BP medications are actually known to cause ED. Im on Tekturna myself and I would really like to know if your taking it monotherapy. Thanks
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