Nifedipine Measures Up in Resistant Hypertension It compares well with hydralazine as a step 3 agent

In a randomised double-blind crossover study, 21 patients with essential hypertension and a diastolic BP between 95 and 120mm Hg after 2 weeks of treatment with a P-blocker-diuretic-placebo combination were given slow release nifedipine 20, 40 or 60mg bid and hydralazine 25, 50 or 100mg bid for 9 weeks each. The reduction in systolic BP was significantly greater with nifedipine compared with hydralazine and the proportion of patients requiring the highest dose was greater with hydralazine. Heart rate and mean left ventricular ejection rate were not altered by either treatment and patients reported only minor adverse effects. The authors concluded that " "the nifedipine tablet appears to be an effective antihypertensive agent in patients who remain hypertensive despite combined diuretic and P-blocker therapy', Myers MG. Leenen FHH. Burns R. Frankel 0 Climcal Pharmacology and Therapeutics 39. 409-413. Apr 1986

10 INPHARMA"' 21 June 1986 0156-2703/86/0621-0010/0$01.00/0 © ADIS Press