title: Treatment of hypertension with calcium antagonists.
abstract: Calcium antagonists are the latest addition to the antihypertensive armamentarium. The evidence available suggests that they lower blood pressure at least as effectively as diuretics, beta-receptor blockers and other vasodilators. Nifedipine is as effective as hydralazine as a third-line drug. Both nifedipine and verapamil may be used alone as first-line therapy, but they are more expensive and probably cause more symptomatic side-effects than diuretics or beta-receptor blockers.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006830:Hydralazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics; D006830:Hydralazine; D014700:Verapamil; D009543:Nifedipine