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Sodium in medicines place patients’ health ‘at risk’
December 02, 2013
Researchers have found everyday medicines to contain high volumes of Sodium.
Soluble medicines, used by millions of people in Britain, could pose a health risk due to the high levels of sodium they contain1.
Sodium is a component found in salt. The recommended daily intake of sodium per day for adults in the UK is 104mmol2, yet researchers warn that by taking the maximum dose of some medicines, users could consume a staggering 148.8mmols worth of sodium before the amount eaten during their meals is even taken into account.
Researchers at Dundee University and University College London tracked more than 1.2 million patients over a seven year period for the study recently published in the British Medical Journal. The drugs in question included effervescent, dispersible and soluble constructions of paracetemol, aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin C, calcium, zinc and migraine-easing metoclopramide.
The results found that those who took medicines containing sodium increased their risk of suffering heart attacks, stroke or vascular-related death by a significant 16%1 compared to those taking non-sodium versions of prescriptions. The sodium consumers were also seven times more likely to develop high blood pressure and 28% more likely to die prematurely.
Jacob George, a senior clinical lecturer and honorary consultant in clinical pharmacology at Dundee University, noted that this research could merely expose the tip of the iceberg. George explained ‘The ones we looked at were prescribed by GPs, but there's a potentially much larger problem with these drugs being bought over the counter and in supermarkets.'1
George also highlighted the fact that many medicines do not label the potentially harmful quantities of sodium they contain on their packaging and researchers are now calling on manufacturers to address this.
Following this research, Mike Knapton of the British Heart Foundation, advised concerned medicine users that ‘it's important not to simply stop taking your dose’1 and that any worries should be discussed with your doctor first.
Some people may choose to purchase private health insurance in order to gain more control over their healthcare. Health insurance policyholders could arrange speedy appointments with specialist doctors and treatment at a time convenient for them.
1 www.theguardian.com 'High sodium levels in drugs ‘putting patients health at risk' 27th November 2013 (http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/nov/27/salt-level-drugs-health-risk)
2 www.bbc.co.uk 'Salt in medicines 'poses a health risk'', 27th November 2013 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25091741)
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