title: [Antihypertensives: better evenings than mornings].
abstract: In a reasonably large proportion of patients who take antihypertensive drugs (10-30%), hypertension appears to be therapy resistant; even the use of three antihypertensives does not lower the blood pressure sufficiently. The average nocturnal blood pressure is a better predictor of cardiovascular events than blood pressure measured during the day. Antihypertensives have a stronger effect on nocturnal blood pressure when taken in the evening rather than in the morning. The exact mechanism of this has not yet been unravelled, but randomised, non-blinded studies suggest that this so-called chronotherapy does indeed lower cardiovascular risk in certain groups. The authors regard this as a promising strategy for patients with therapy-resistant hypertension in whom a nocturnal blood pressure dip does not occur.
authors: UMC St Radboud, afd. Algemeen Interne Geneeskunde, Nijmegen.
authors: N P
authors: NP
authors: Riksen
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Deinum
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019454:Chronotherapy; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents