title: Review: a single-pill combination of telmisartan plus amlodipine for the treatment of hypertension.
abstract: Despite an increased proportion of patients with hypertension achieving recommended blood pressure (BP) targets, BP control remains suboptimal in many patients. A range of combination therapies utilizing medications with differing mechanisms of action have been shown to provide superior BP-lowering efficacy than monotherapy with individual components. Single-pill combinations deliver improved convenience and may help to improve patient compliance. A single-pill combination of the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) telmisartan and the calcium channel blocker (CCB) amlodipine has recently been approved in 4 different doses (telmisartan/amlodipine 40 mg/5 mg, 40 mg/10 mg, 80 mg/5 mg, and 80 mg/10 mg) for antihypertensive use in the United States. In an 8-week clinical study (N = 1461), these combinations were superior to monotherapy with telmisartan or with amlodipine with respect to the primary endpoint, change in diastolic BP (DBP) from baseline (mean baseline BP, 153.2 [± 12.1]/101.7 [± 4.3] mm Hg) to study end (placebo-corrected reductions of 10.3, 14.0, 12.0, and 13.9 mm Hg, respectively), as well as in multiple secondary endpoints, including change in systolic BP (SBP), DBP response, SBP response, BP control (< 140/< 90 mm Hg), and DBP control (< 90 mm Hg). The telmisartan plus amlodipine combinations were well tolerated, with the incidence of adverse events similar to placebo; the incidence of peripheral edema was lower with the 40 mg/10 mg and 80 mg/10 mg combinations than with amlodipine 10 mg alone. In another study (N = 858), the highest-dose combination (80 mg/10 mg) demonstrated superior BP-lowering efficacy than same-dose monotherapy with either telmisartan or amlodipine in patients with severe hypertension (SBP ≥ 180 and DBP ≥ 95 mm Hg). Single-pill telmisartan plus amlodipine combination therapy appears to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment as initial therapy for patients likely to require > 1 antihypertensive agent to reach BP targets.
authors: Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43212, USA. Guthrie.1@osu.edu
authors: Robert M
authors: RM
authors: Guthrie
mesh_terms: D017311:Amlodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / 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; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077333:Telmisartan; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001565:Benzoates; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004338:Drug Combinations; C548840:telmisartan amlodipine combination; D017311:Amlodipine; D000077333:Telmisartan