title: Diltiazem compared with hydrochlorothiazide in the treatment of mild-to-moderate essential hypertension.
abstract: The efficacy of diltiazem (DTZ) (Tilazem; Parke-Davis) 90-180 mg twice daily was compared with that of hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) 25-50 mg once daily in the monotherapy of mild-to-moderate essential hypertension using a double-blind, double-dummy technique. Twenty-nine patients were randomly assigned to two groups and after a 4-week placebo period treated with HCT 25 mg once daily or DTZ 90 mg twice daily for 12 weeks. Dosage was doubled at week 8 in non-responders. Cross-over of therapy took place after a 4-week placebo washout. Both drugs effectively reduced raised arterial pressures with little change in pulse rate. HCT caused a slight elevation of the mean serum urate level. The study confirms that diltiazem offers an effective well-tolerated monotherapy for essential hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, University of Natal, Durban.
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Leary
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van der Byl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011674:Pulse / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D004110:Diltiazem