A dose finding study of the combination of atenolol and nifedipine in hypertension.
A randomized, double-blind, crossover study was carried out to compare the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of two doses of a fixed combination of 50 mg atenolol and 20 mg nifedipine slow release (1 capsule or 2 capsules once daily) in 16 hypertensive patients, treated for 4 weeks with each dose. The results suggest that the combination exerted a greater antihypertensive effect at 3 hours compared with 24 to 28-hours post-dose. Demonstrable differences in resting blood pressure between the low and high dose of the combination occurred at the 3-hour but not at the 24 to 28-hour post-dose time point. This apparent difference was also evident under exercise conditions, although no significance between dose differences were demonstrable at either time point. Thus, it appears that any additional benefit in efficacy obtained with the higher dose is not sustained over a 24-hours period. Side-effects were relatively uncommon with the combination, occurring least commonly with the lower dose.
Department of Medicine and Nephrology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.
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R
Wilkinson
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Mansy
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001262:Atenolol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D001262:Atenolol; D009543:Nifedipine