title: Candesartan plus hydrochlorothiazide: an overview of its use and efficacy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 2007 European Society of Cardiology/ European Society of Hypertension guidelines suggests that among the therapeutic possibilities, the use of angiotensin receptor blockers as an important component of antihypertensive combination therapy. Thiazide-type diuretics are usually added in order to increase the therapeutic efficacy in lowering blood pressure (BP). Many authors have demonstrated how effective is a fixed-dose combination of candesartan cilexetil/hydrochlorothiazide in lowering BP, even when compared with other antihypertensive drugs belonging to the same therapeutic category. Moreover, this combination showed good compliance and tolerability and few adverse reactions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors analyze the importance of the combination therapy of candesartan cilexetil plus hydrochlorothiazide in the treatment of hypertension. Many authors explain how effective BP control is often achieved only with the combination of drugs with different mechanisms of action, in particular in high risk patients or in those affected with diabetes mellitus or chronic renal disease; in fact, these patients need a more intensive BP control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fixed-dose combination drug candesartan/hydrochlorothiazide turned out to be a significant alternative in the treatment of hypertension, both for its high efficacy in BP reduction and in prevention of target organ damage, both for its tolerability and patient compliance.
authors.affiliation: University of Pavia, Centro Ipertensione e Fisiopatologia Cardiovascolare, Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Fondazione IRCC Policlinico S. Matteo, Piazzale Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy. amedeo.mugellini@unipv.it
authors.forename: Amedeo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mugellini
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nieswandt
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004232:Diuretics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D004232:Diuretics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors; D013777:Tetrazoles; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; C077793:candesartan cilexetil