Felodipine treats hypertension as effectively as atenolol But patient age may be important

Both felodipine and atenolol have proven efficacy in the treatment of hypertension. To compare the 2 drugs a double-blind randomised multicentre trial was undertaken in 113 patients with essential hypertension (diastolic BP > 95mm Hg). After a 1-week placebo phase, patients received either atenolol 1 OOmg daily for 2 months (n = 55) or felodipine 5mg bid tor 15 days and 1 Omg bid thereafter (58).

BP reduction was similar in both treatment groups with 61 and 67% of telodipine and atenolol recipients, respectively, achieving diastolic BP < 90mm Hg and was significantly correlated with baseline BP. Atenolol tended to be more effective in the younger patients while felodipine tended to be more effective in patients aged > 60 years. Atenolol recipients had a significant reduction in HR compared with felodipine recipients. Side effects were reported by 80 and 84% of atenolol and felodipine recipients, respectively, and caused the withdrawal of 8 and 15 patients, respectively.

The authors concluded that atenolol and felodipine were similar in efficacy and tolerability, but further studies designed to assess whether the BP reduction induced by different antihypertensives is a function of age, were required. Lesbre J Ph. W1tchitz S, AndreJak M. Morand Ph, Raveau·Landon C Felodlp,ne and atenolol 1n the f"st-line treatment of essential artenal hypertension. Comparative double·blind study Presse Med1r:~le 18: '03-i06. Jan 1989 .,

0156-2703/89/0527-0007j0$01.00j0 © ADIS Press INPHARMA® 27 May 1989 7