Nifedipine in the treatment of hypertension: report of a double-blind controlled trial.
1 The effect of oral nifedipine has been examined in patients with hypertension in whom arterial pressure was not adequately controlled by the combination of a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist (or alpha-methyldopa) and a diuretic. 2 In 42 patients, nifedipine (10 mg capsules) was added to the existing therapy in a final dose of 20-60 mg daily. Six patients had to stop the drug on account of side-effects. In the 36 patients who continued treatment, arterial pressure fell by an average of 24/9 mmHg supine and 26/10 mmHg standing. 3 In 11 of these patients who subsequently completed a double-blind, cross-over, placebo controlled trial, nifedipine (30-60 mg daily) was found to reduce arterial pressure by an average of 19/11 mmHg supine and 21/12 mmHg standing. 4 In all 11 patients who were changed to a sustained release preparation of nifedipine, control of arterial pressure was at least as good as it had been when taking the capsules.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004232:Diuretics; D011725:Pyridines; D008750:Methyldopa; D009543:Nifedipine