Noninvasive blood pressure monitoring evaluation of verapamil slow-release 240-mg antihypertensive effectiveness.
The aim of our study was to evaluate the antihypertensive effectiveness of verapamil slow-release (SR), administered once a day. We studied 11 patients, 7 male and 4 female, with an average age of 53.6 +/- 12.86 years, who had essential hypertension. After a drug washout period of at least 15 days, placebo was administered (one tablet per day), and then patients received verapamil SR 240 mg/day at 8:00 a.m. for at least 2 weeks. At the end of the washout, placebo, and active drug treatment periods we performed ambulatory intermittent blood pressure monitoring for 24 h using a Squibb Spacelabs pressurometer. After verapamil treatment, in comparison to placebo, a significant reduction of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (154.91 +/- 13.34/94.29 +/- 9.48 vs. 143.73 +/- 11.39/84.6 +/- 7.99 mm Hg; p less than 0.005), was observed without significant changes of the circadian blood pressure pattern. Moreover, we observed a significant reduction of SBP and DBP variability mainly during daytime, whereas this behavior was not evident for heart rate. In conclusion, verapamil SR seems useful to obtain a constant and significant reduction of 24-h blood pressure values with a significant reduction of SBP and DBP variability.
Novo
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Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Palermo, Italy.
Alaimo
G
G
Abrignani
M G
MG
Longo
B
B
Muratore
G
G
Strano
A
A
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D014700:Verapamil