Enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide: acceptable in the elderly?

In a double-blind study, 32 asymptomatic elderly hypertensives (aged 63-82 years), with a diastolic BP of > 90mm Hg or systolic BP> 160mm Hg following a 2-week placebo phase, were randomised to receive enalapril 10-40 mgjday (n = 15) or hydrochlorothiazide 25-100 mgjday (17) for 10 weeks. Both regimens resulted in comparable significant reductions in BP and similar rates of BP fall, with 20 patients achieving goal BP by study end (systolic BP of < 150mm Hg and a diastolic BP of < 90mm Hg). Withdrawal due to adverse effects occurred in 4 and 3 enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide recipients, respectively: significant decreases in plasma potassium and sodium and an increase in plasma urea and uric acid were evident in hydrochlorothiazide recipients only. Grosskopf S. German R. Bedln LJ. Vandongen R. Rogers P A randomlsed double blind comparison of enalaprll versus hydrochlorothiazide ,n elderly hypertensIvE's Journal of Human

Hypertension 3 131-136. Ap 1989 '"

0156-2703/89/0701-0009/0$01.00/0 © ADtS Press INPHARMA' 1 Jut 1989 9