Nifedipine is Similar in Antihypertensive Efficacy ... . . . to cyclopenthiazide/potassium but is associated with a higher incidence of side effects

A double-blind study compared the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of controlled release nifedipine and cyclopenthiazide in general practice patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension . After a 4-week placebo run-in, patients randomly received either nifedipine 20mg bid (n = 38) or cyclopenthiazide 0.25 mg/potassium 8.1 mmol once daily (37). The drug dosages were doubled after 4 weeks if diastolic BP was not reduced to ~ 95mm Hg or by ~ 10mm Hg.

Mean sitting and standing BPs were similarly reduced in both treatment groups after 4 weeks and were further reduced after 8 weeks of active therapy. HR was unaltered in both groups. 13/38 nifedipine recipients withdrew from the study because of adverse effects, predominantly headache (n = 6) and leg oedema (4) . Two of 37 cyclopenthiazide/potassium recipients withdrew because of headache (2) and fatigue (1). Thus, controlled release nifedipine has similar antihypertensive effects to cyclopenthiazide/ potassium in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension, but the incidence of adverse effects is higher. Sullivan FM. Murray TS. Gaw N. Langan JJ. Adams·Slrump BJ European Hearl Journal 8 (Suppl K) ' 21·25. Nov 1987 ....

0156-2703/ 88/ 0611-0009/0$01.00/0 © ADIS Press INPHARMA· 11 June 1988 9