The Polypill Prevention Programme includes a daily preventive medication consisting of carefully selected medicines combined at the right doses to have a major impact on preventing heart attacks and strokes with minimal risk of side effects. Read below to find out about the Polypill Prevention Programme and see our page about How it works.
Although the individual component medicines in the Polypill are widely used throughout the world (often taken together at standard doses), this combination formulated into a single capsule is not classified as a licensed medication.
The preventive medication provided as part of the Polypill Prevention Programme is designed for maximum effectiveness and minimum side effects. The medication contains the following:
| Name | Dose | What is it? |
|---|---|---|
| Rosuvastatin | 10 mg | Rosuvastatin is a cholesterol lowering medication. At this dose, it decreases LDL cholesterol in the blood by about 43% 2 . |
| Hydrochlorothiazide | 12.5 mg | Hydrochlorothiazide lowers blood pressure and helps eliminate excess sodium. |
| Amlodipine | 2.5 mg | Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocking (CCB) drug which reduces blood pressure. |
| Losartan | 25 mg | Losartan is an angiotensin receptor blocking (ARB) drug. It also lowers blood pressure by inhibiting the body's response to angiotensin II which increases blood pressure. This helps to protect organs such as the heart and kidneys from the harmful effects of higher blood pressure levels. |
Our doctors are able to assess your suitability for joining the Polypill Prevention Programme through an online consultation. If suitable, you can then request a prescription for the Polypill via our secure website. The prescription allows our partner pharmacy to dispense your medication. If you would like to discuss the Polypill Prevention Programme with your GP first, please do so. We provide more information for other doctors here .
The Polypill Prevention Programme is a powerful example of preventive medicine. All the Polypill Prevention Programme medicines have been widely used to treat people with cardiovascular disease. The objective is to prevent these diseases from arising in the first place. By using the right combination of medicines, the risk of a heart attack and stroke can be reduced by two thirds. The basis for this strategy was set out in a series of papers and journals.