title: The safety profile of telmisartan as monotherapy or combined with hydrochlorothiazide: a retrospective analysis of 50 studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To compare the tolerability and safety of telmisartan +/- hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective analysis was performed on all hypertensive patients that were enrolled in telmisartan studies. A total of 30 double-blind (n=8023) and 20 open-label (n=8393) studies were available at the time of this analysis, and were included. Treatments investigated were placebo, telmisartan 10-160 mg, or telmisartan 10-160 mg plus HCTZ 6.25-25 mg. The incidence and causality of all adverse events (AEs) and laboratory abnormalities occurring during treatment were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidences of all-cause AEs in the double-blind studies were: 2.73 per patient-year (PY) (36.1%; placebo); 2.03/PY (37.4%; telmisartan monotherapy) and 2.09/PY (44.8%; telmisartan plus HCTZ). The respective numbers in the open-label studies were: 0.65/PY (49.6%; telmisartan monotherapy) and 0.70/PY (40.3%; telmisartan plus HCTZ). The most frequent suspected adverse reactions were dizziness and headache, which were comparable across groups and studies. The overall incidence of drug-related laboratory abnormalities was low in all treatment groups. Treatment-related hyperuricaemia and hypokalaemia occurred in less than 0.1% of patients, respectively, treated with telmisartan plus HCTZ. Incidences of discontinuation due to an AE were 4.6%, 4.5% and 4.7%, respectively, for the placebo, telmisartan and telmisartan plus HCTZ treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The consolidated data show that telmisartan +/- HCTZ are well tolerated in patients of all ages and have placebo-like tolerabilities.
authors.affiliation: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Ingelheim, Germany. SCHUMACH@ing.boehringer-ingelheim.com
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mancia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077333:Telmisartan
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001565:Benzoates; D004338:Drug Combinations; C436283:telmisartan, hydrochlorothiazide drug combination; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D000077333:Telmisartan