title: Intrinsically long-acting agents compared with long-acting chronoformulations.
abstract: Intrinsically long-acting antihypertensive drugs may be characterized by long elimination half-lives with high trough: peak ratios for decreasing blood pressure. These agents are usually administered once daily in the morning, and at steady-state they provide 24 h blood pressure control, attenuate the early-morning surge in blood pressure, and maintain a normal circadian blood pressure pattern. In comparison, chronoformulations incorporate shorter-acting antihypertensive drugs into a delivery system that is delayed-onset or extended-release, or both. These agents, which are often designed to be given once daily at bedtime, deliver peak drug concentrations that coincide with the early-morning surge in blood pressure. Chronoformulations also provide 24 h blood pressure control. In highly compliant patients, both intrinsically long-acting drugs and chronoformulations are likely to provide comparable blood pressure control. However, in poorly compliant patients who miss doses of medication, intrinsically long-acting drugs are likely to be superior, because they sustain blood pressure control beyond the dosing interval.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Gardiner Institute, Western Infirmary, Glasgow G11 6NT, UK. pamlv@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Meredith
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000592:standards; D019454:Chronotherapy / Q000592:standards*; D004304:Dosage Forms / Q000592:standards; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004304:Dosage Forms