Skin Patch to Treat High Blood Pressure

A skin patch has been invented by a Japanese firm ‘Nitto Denko’ to treat high blood pressure condition. The skin patch allows a drug to seep through the skin and into the bloodstream when sickened on to patient’s arm, chest or back.

According to researchers, the skin patch provides a steady flow of bisoprolol, which is a type of beta blocker, unlike pills which can cause blood pressure levels to peak and trough dangerously. Because of having a constant and steady supply of the drug, it is believed to reduce the incidence of heart attacks and strokes. It has been cleared for use in Japan and will be available in other countries within the next couple of years.

Each skin patch contains either a four or eight milligram dose. Beta-blockers have been used for nearly 50 years to treat high blood pressure, angina, heart failure, anxiety and even migraine. The patch not only improves blood pressure control but also help patients who have trouble swallowing pills. The number of reported side-effects from the patch was about the same as with tablets.

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