title: Efficacy and tolerability of fixed-dose combinations of telmisartan plus HCTZ compared with losartan plus HCTZ in patients with essential hypertension.
abstract: Telmisartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, is an effective once-daily antihypertensive agent available either alone or in fixed-dose combination with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). This multicentre, prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint (PROBE) study assessed the efficacy and safety of six weeks' treatment with telmisartan 40 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg (n = 199) and telmisartan 80 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg (n = 200) versus losartan 50 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg (n = 198) in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. During the last six hours of the dosing interval, telmisartan 40 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg and telmisartan 80 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg reduced mean ambulatory diastolic blood pressure (DBP) to a greater extent than losartan 50 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg (treatment differences 1.8 mmHg [p < 0.05] and 2.5 mmHg [p < 0.001], respectively). Telmisartan 80 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg also lowered mean 24-hour DBP by 2.3 mmHg more than losartan 50 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg (p < 0.001). Telmisartan 40 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg and telmisartan 80 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg produced greater reductions in ambulatory systolic blood pressure versus losartan 50 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg of 2.5 mmHg and 3.4 mmHg, respectively, during the last six hours of the dosing interval (p < 0.05), and of 2.1 mmHg and 3.4 mmHg, respectively, over the entire 24-hour dosing interval (p < 0.05). All treatments were well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Unit, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lacourcière
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gil-Extremera
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001565:Benzoates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019808:Losartan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077333:Telmisartan
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001565:Benzoates; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D019808:Losartan; D000077333:Telmisartan