Looking for an Alternative to ~-Blockers in Hypertension? Urapidil brings down BP and compares well with acebutolol

In a double-blind trial, 40 outpatients who had had primary hypertension for at least 6 months were randomised to 10 weeks' treatment with acebutolol (n = 20) 30-90 mg/day or urapidil (n = 20) 200-400 mg/day. A 1-week placebo run-in period preceded the study and all other antihypertensive drugs were discontinued at least 3 weeks before the trial began. Both drugs produced a significant fall in mean BP. In urapidil-treated patients, BP fell from 167/107 to 144/87mm Hg and 16 patients reached goal diastolic BP while in the acebutolol-treated group mean BP fell from 164/107 to 147/92mm Hg and 12 patients achieved goal diastolic BP. There was no significant difference between mean BPs in the treatment groups at any time, but urapidil produced a significantly greater fall in standing systolic and diastolic BP, and supine systolic BP, than acebutolol. Further, acebutolol-treated patients experienced a significant fall in heart rate, but urapidil produced no significant change.

The authors concluded that urapidil appears to be a suitable alternative to ~-blockers in the treatment of light to moderately severe hypertension, especially for patients in whom ~-blockers are contraindicated. Tzincoca, C.: Levenson. J. ; Petitet, A ; Englestatter R. and Safar. ME.; Current Therapeutic Research 38: 579·585 (Oct 1985)

0156-2703/ 85/ 1005-0013/ 0$01 .00/0 @ ADIS Press INPHARMA® 23 Nov 1985 13