title: Low-dose captopril titration in patients with moderate-to-severe hypertension treated with diuretics.
abstract: To study the value of low-dose captopril (6.25 and 12.5 mg) and a diuretic combination, the blood pressure and heart rate of 17 patients with moderate-to-severe hypertension were monitored for 6 hours (hospital) or 3 hours (office) after the single low-dose or larger (25, 50, 100 and 150 mg) captopril dosage. All patients had preserved renal function and were taking an oral diuretic (hydrochlorothiazide or furosemide) for at least 4 weeks. The supine and upright acute blood pressure lowering with 6.25 mg was not different from the larger captopril doses; none produced persistent or profound hypotension. There was no deterioration of renal function, new or persistent increase in proteinuria, neutropenia or agranulocytosis acutely or during 17 +/- 2 weeks of follow-up. Low-dose captopril (6.25 or 12.5 mg three times daily) normalized the supine blood pressure of 35% of these patients acutely. We suggest that in hypertensive patients already taking a diuretic, a lower starting dose of captopril than the recommended 25 mg three times daily may be desirable.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002216:Captopril / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D011392:Proline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D005665:Furosemide; D011392:Proline; D002216:Captopril