Atenolol Plus Nifedipine in Hypertension Proves better than either drug alone in resistant patients

In a double-blind crossover study, 65 patients with mild to moderate hypertension were randomised to 1 month's treatment with nifedipine 20mg bid and atenolol l00mg once daily. A l-month placebo period preceded each treatment and after crossover nifedipine + atenolol was given to patients who had not achieved goal BP (~ 90mm Hg).

The antihypertensive effect of atenolol was significantly greater than that of nifedipine. The antihypertensive effect of combination therapy was significantly greater than that of either drug alone in patients resistant to monotherapy. The incidence and spectrum of adverse effects was comparable for placebo and all 3 active treatments. Therefore. a combination of atenolol and nifedipine appears to be effective in reducing BP in patients with resistant mild to moderate hypertension and long term evaluation is warranted Daniels AR. Ople LH Ameflcan Journal of Cardiology 57 965970 15 Apr 1986

8 INPHARMA ® 21 June 1986 0156-2703/86/0621-0008/ 0$01 .00/ 0 © ADIS Press