Amlodipine compared to nitrendipine for the treatment of mild-to-moderate hypertension.
This study compared the efficacy and safety of 8 weeks of open treatment with the dihydropyridine calcium antagonists amlodipine and nitrendipine in mild-to-moderate hypertension. Interim analysis of data from 74 patients (43 male, 31 female) showed that amlodipine normalized diastolic blood pressure (less than or equal to 90 mmHg) in 95% of patients compared with 83% of nitrendipine-treated patients. Nitrendipine produced a statistically significant increase in heart rate at 2 and 4 weeks of therapy but there was no significant change in heart rate in amlodipine-treated patients. Amlodipine-treated patients reported fewer adverse events (26%) than did the nitrendipine-treated group (47%), with two patients from the nitrendipine group discontinuing treatment due to treatment-related adverse events. Adverse events in the amlodipine-treated group were mild to moderate. The incidence of flushing was higher in nitrendipine-treated patients (25%) than in amlodipine-treated patients (10%). This relative difference in the incidence of vasodilator-related side effects is probably explained by the gradual onset of effect with amlodipine.
Englert
R
R
Veitlipp 2, Gars am Inn, Germany.
Beressem
P
P
von Manteuffel
E
E
Stafunsky
M
M
Kramar
M
M
D017311:Amlodipine; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D017311:Amlodipine; D009568:Nitrendipine; D009543:Nifedipine