Does a diuretic cause a further fall in blood pressure in hypertensive patients already on nifedipine?
The effect of the addition of a diuretic, bendrofluazide, for 1 month was studied in 12 hypertensive patients who were already on treatment with nifedipine tablets (20 mg b.i.d.) When nifedipine was maximally effective, that is, at 2 hours after the last dose, the diuretic had no further blood-pressure-lowering effect. These results suggest that unlike most other blood-pressure-lowering agents, there is little point in giving a diuretic to patients who are already on nifedipine, and if blood pressure is not controlled on nifedipine alone, it may be more effective to add either a beta blocker or a converting enzyme inhibitor. This has the advantage of avoiding the metabolic problems of diuretics.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001539:Bendroflumethiazide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D001539:Bendroflumethiazide; D009543:Nifedipine