Do Fixed Dose Combinations Play an Important Role in the Management of Coexistent Type Two Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension?

The global burden of coexistent Type Two Diabetes Mellitus (TTDM) and hypertension is rising and it is emerging as a severe threat to world health and well being. This twin epidemic of coexistent TTDM and hypertension exposes patients to severe co-morbidities like cardiovascular diseases, lower limb amputations, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy if not treated in time and with appropriate regimen. Guidelines established by various international organizations suggest multiple drug therapy for the safe and effective management of coexistent TTDM and hypertension. Such a polypharmacy with complex drug regimen leads to increased pill burden and often reflects into decreased patient compliance. This poor adherence to prescribed regimen, then gets translated into worsening of conditions and increases the hospitalization and all cause mortality to a significant extent. Use of FDCwill be one of the promising solution in the treatment of coexistent TTDM and hypertension where patients have to take 4-5 tablets on an average per day and thus show poor compliance to therapy. Use of FDC leads to the decrease in pill burden and thus helps in improving patient compliance. Along with these facts formulations of FDC also leads to simplification of complex drug regimen, synergistic effect produced by dugs in combination and reduction in cost of product. Present review describes the role of FDC in the treatment of coexistent TTDM and hypertension.