Antibiotic...*

Research released by the British Medical Journal implicated trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole as a cause for increased risk of sudden death in older populations.

Data gathered for more than 17 years and included patients aged 66 years or older who were on an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) and then suddenly died within 7 or 14 days of starting treatment as an outpatient with an oral antibiotic.

Of the more than 1.5 million patients included in the study, nearly 40,000 died suddenly after beginning oral antibiotic.

Previous research theorized the quick and clinically significant rise in potassium, which then caused an unrecognized arrhythmic death.  The authors also implied that sudden death is attributed to underlying cardiovascular disease. [or both together]

With more than 250 million prescriptions for ACE inhibitors and ARBs annually, and more than 20 million prescriptions for trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole dispensed each year in the United States, chances are that the 2 will be prescribed together. When appropriate, it is prudent for clinicians to evaluate. The duration and impact of antibiotics are scary.    Just a thought.