1. WA2: High Blood Pressure Medicine It can save your life, but can you afford it?

2. 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).

3. 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 Angiotensin- Converting 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 )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)

4. 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.Walgreens 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.Canadian Drugs Direct

5. 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-Imports8-07-03 - 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 http://www.canadiandrugsdirect.com/canadian_discount_prescription_drugs.htm Image two retrieved 12-16-03 from http://www.generic-pharmacy.com/http://www.generic-pharmacy.com/