The theoretical polypill, 5 low-dose medicines in a single pill, has been described as an approach that could have a greater impact on the prevention of cardiovascular disease in the Western world than any other single intervention. The polypill is 5-10 years away but a very similar option, a cardiovascular medicine packaging service, is available now.
Polypack
Polypack is a packaging service that will package medicines that are the same or similar to those that would be in a cardiovascular polypill. Co-packaging of medicines makes it much easier for people to take a number of medicines over a long period of time, and has been shown to improve clinical outcomes.
The Polypack service can currently deliver up to five medications in a single sachet to be taken each day. The medications available are the same or similar to those that would be in a cardiovascular polypill if it were available and must be prescribed by a doctor. The following medicines are available for packing and the prescribing doctor can include all or some of these medicines and can change the doses if required:
|
 |
|
|
|
Unlike a cardiovascular polypill, components can be removed if a person cannot take one or more of them (eg. atenolol can be removed for people with asthma). Boxed rolls of 90 sachets are dispensed and the cost is $1 a day. Unit-of-use sachets have been shown to massively increase adherence to treatment regimes requiring multiple tablets and have been shown to improve clinical outcomes.
Expert opinions |
|
|
"It's a great shame that the polypill is taking so long to get to market and that's why I applaud Shaun's innovation."
Professor Richard Smith
Director of the Ovations initiative to combat chronic disease in the developing world
Ex-editor for the British Medical Journal
|
|
|
"The polypack represents a practical method whereby the New Zealand population can obtain the benefits of the polypill strategy which has been described as an approach that could have a greater impact on the prevention of disease in the western world than any other single intervention. The major advance of the polypack initiative is that it is possible to vary the doses of the medications included to meet individual patient requirements. This overcomes the major drawback of the polypill concept in which fixed dose combinations of medications are included in a single pill. As a result, the polypack (service) represents a "second generation" version of the polypill strategy."
Professor Richard Beasley
Director of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you want to discuss with your doctor whether low-dose cardiovascular medicines are for you, you can print this summary of the information to take with you Click here to download
|
|
|
Work out your cardiovascular disease risk
You can use the QRISK®2 Web Calculator to work out your risk of having a heart attack or stroke over the next ten years by answering some simple questions. It is suitable for people who do not already have a diagnosis of heart disease or stroke. Click here for the QRISK®2 cardiovascular disease risk calculator. |
|
|
Natural Polypack
In addition, a "Natural Polypack" has been launched containing four natural products which help the heart and circulatory system. No prescription is needed and it is unlikely to cause side effects. Click here to read more on the Natural Polypack.
|
|
|
