[Are the newer antihypertensive agents better and more effective than diuretics?].
BACKGROUND
In recent years, the expenses for medical antihypertensive therapy have increased considerably, the main reason being the switchover to newer and more expensive antihypertensive drugs.


RESULTS
Several recent studies which have compared the efficacy of the older, conventional drugs (thiazid diuretics and beta-blockers) with the newer agents (calcium blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors), have shown that they are almost equipotent with regard to effects on blood pressure, morbidity and mortality. At lower doses, the metabolic effects of thiazide diuretics are minimal and probably without clinical significance, and the risk of developing diabetes mellitus type 2 does not seem to be increased.


CONCLUSIONS
The cheaper thiazide diuretics are still valuable drugs in the treatment of hypertension. If more than one agent is necessary to reduce blood pressure to the desired level, they can be combined with other antihypertensive agents.
Landmark
K
K
Institutt for farmakoterapi Postboks 1065 Blindern 0316 Oslo. k.h.landmark@ioks.uio.no
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D004232:Diuretics; D016527:Drug Costs; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors