Single-pill combination of amlodipine and valsartan in the management of hypertension.
Combination therapy is increasingly recommended for selected patients with hypertension to facilitate prompt attainment and maintenance of goal blood pressure (BP). Single-pill combination therapy simplifies treatment and optimizes long-term compliance. Amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, and valsartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, are well-established antihypertensive agents with complementary mechanisms of action. This combination lowers BP significantly more than either of its components, and valsartan reduces the incidence of dose-related amlodipine-induced edema. Rigorous clinical trial data have proven the BP-lowering efficacy and high tolerability of the amlodipine/valsartan combination in patients with moderate to severe hypertension as well as other difficult-to-treat populations. Amlodipine/valsartan is indicated as initial therapy in patients who are unlikely to be controlled with a single drug and as second-line therapy in patients not responding adequately to monotherapy.
Flack
John M
JM
Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 4201 St. Antoine, Suite 2E, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. jflack@med.wayne.edu
Hilkert
Robert
R
D017311:Amlodipine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068756:Valsartan
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013777:Tetrazoles; D017311:Amlodipine; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine