title: The antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of a low dose combination of ramipril and felodipine ER in mild to moderate essential hypertension.
abstract: 1. The antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of a low dose combination of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril (2.5 mg) and the extended release formulation of the dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist felodipine (5 mg) were assessed in a double-blind, double dummy placebo controlled, randomised, crossover study in 20 patients (mean age 55.4 years; range 46-69) with uncomplicated mild to moderate hypertension (supine diastolic > 90 mmHg < 115 mmHg after 4 weeks of single-blind wash-out on placebo). The four randomised, double-blind, crossover study phases evaluated the response to 4 weeks of once daily treatment with placebo, monotherapy with each drug and the combination. Noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (Spacelabs 90207) was performed for 24 h at the end of each phase. 2. The mean 24 h ambulatory blood pressure (mmHg) was 147.9/92.0 following placebo, 141.3/87.8 following monotherapy with ramipril 2.5 mg, 136.8/85.8 following monotherapy with felodipine ER 5 mg and 131.1/82.6 following the combination of ramipril 2.5 mg and felodipine ER 5 mg. All active treatment phases significantly reduced mean 24 h ambulatory diastolic pressure by comparison with placebo. The antihypertensive efficacy of the combination was additive. 3. The coadministration of ramipril did not attenuate the incidence of headache attributable to felodipine ER.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Gardiner Institute of Medicine, Western Infirmary, Glasgow G11 6NT.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bainbridge
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Macfadyen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015736:Felodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017257:Ramipril / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D017257:Ramipril; D015736:Felodipine