title: Irbesartan/amlodipine: a review of its use in adult patients with essential hypertension not adequately controlled with monotherapy.
abstract: Combination therapy is often required in patients with hypertension, and fixed-dose single-pill combinations have been shown to provide an easier regimen for patients, improving adherence. Irbesartan/amlodipine (Aprovasc®) is an angiotensin-receptor blocker/calcium-channel blocker fixed-dose single-pill combination, whose constituent drugs exert additive effects when coadministered. In two randomized, open-label, multicentre, phase III trials, fixed-dose combination therapy with irbesartan/amlodipine was more effective than continuation of irbesartan or amlodipine monotherapy in patients with hypertension not adequately controlled with initial irbesartan or amlodipine monotherapy; there was a significantly greater decrease from baseline in mean seated home systolic blood pressure (primary endpoint) with the fixed-dose combination. The fixed-dose combination was also associated with a greater decrease in mean seated home diastolic blood pressure and mean seated office systolic and diastolic blood pressure than monotherapy. The fixed-dose combination of irbesartan/amlodipine was well tolerated in these patients; most treatment-emergent adverse events were of mild or moderate severity. The most frequent adverse event was peripheral oedema, generally associated with amlodipine treatment.
authors.affiliation: Adis, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, North Shore, 0754, Auckland, New Zealand. demail@springer.com
authors.forename: Karly P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Garnock-Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017311:Amlodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077405:Irbesartan; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D013777:Tetrazoles; D017311:Amlodipine; D000077405:Irbesartan