title: Antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of enalapril and slow-release verapamil in essential hypertension: a double-blind, cross-over study.
abstract: The antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of enalapril (E) and slow-release verapamil (V) were compared in a 2-month double-blind cross-over study in 22 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. After 1 month, significantly lower systolic (P less than 0.01) and diastolic (P less than 0.02) blood pressures (BP) were achieved with E, 20 mg d-1, compared with V, 240 mg d-1. After 2 months of treatment, BP reductions were similar after E, 40 mg d-1, and V, 240 mg twice a day. The fall in supine mean BP after 2 months of treatment with V was significantly greater in patients aged greater than or equal to 50 years of age (P = 0.02) (median 18 mmHg) than in patients aged less than 50 years (10 mmHg). E showed similar effectiveness in both age groups. Statistical group analysis of a quality-of-life questionnaire showed no significant differences between the active drugs and the placebo. It is concluded that E and V are equally effective as antihypertensive agents, and that both drugs are well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Lund University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fagher
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katzman
authors.forename: U L
authors.initials: UL
authors.lastname: Hulthén
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Henningsen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thulin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004656:Enalapril / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014700:Verapamil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004656:Enalapril; D014700:Verapamil; D012083:Renin