World's top blood pressure drug gets failing mark

The world's most popular blood pressure medicine is much less effective than comparable drugs and gives patients a false sense of security, researchers say

In a review of earlier studies, they found the drug, a diuretic, or "water pill," called hydrochlorothiazide, lowered blood pressure by only about half as much as common alternatives such as beta blockers and ACE inhibitors.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_108048.html