title: Diltiazem and propranolol in mild to moderate essential hypertension as monotherapy or with hydrochlorothiazide.
abstract: We compared the safety and efficacy of diltiazem and propranolol, and examined demographic factors influencing responses to these agents. One hundred ninety-six patients with supine diastolic blood pressures of 95 to 114 mm Hg were treated with propranolol (80 to 240 mg twice a day) or a sustained-release preparation of diltiazem (60 to 180 mg twice a day) in a double-blind, randomized, parallel group protocol for 6 months. Hydrochlorothiazide was added for patients not achieving the treatment goal. Both agents produced nearly identical and highly significant (p less than 0.001) reductions in supine blood pressure. There were no significant differences at the end of the optional combination therapy phase, although additional reduction with hydrochlorothiazide was slightly greater in the propranolol group. Blood pressure responses in relation to age, gender, race, and smoking history showed that diltiazem produced greater changes in older subjects and women, whereas propranolol was less effective in blacks. However, these differences were not critical.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Massie
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: MacCarthy
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Eidelson
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Labreche
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tubau
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ulep
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bartels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011433:Propranolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D011433:Propranolol; D004110:Diltiazem