The antihypertensive efficacy of HCTZ in its daily dose of 12.5 to 25 mg as measured in head-to-head studies by ambulatory BP measurement is consistently inferior to that of all other drug classes .
Because outcome data at this dose are lacking , HCTZ is an inappropriate first-line drug for the treatment of hypertension
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy of hydrochlorothiazide ( HCTZ ) by ambulatory blood pressure ( BP ) monitoring .
BACKGROUND HCTZ is the most commonly prescribed antihypertensive drug worldwide .
More than 97 % of all HCTZ prescriptions are for 12.5 to 25 mg per day .
The antihypertensive efficacy of HCTZ by ambulatory BP monitoring is less well defined .
Treatment of hypertension in the elderly with a new calcium channel blocking drug, nitrendipine.
PURPOSE Treatment of hypertension in the elderly decreases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality . We hypothesized that nitrendipine would be efficacious in the treatment of hypertension in the elderly . We evaluated potential differences between nitrendipine and the commonly used drug hydrochlorothiazide ( HCTZ ) . PATIENTS AND METHODS The study was conducted as a double-blind r and omized clinical trial of nitrendipine or HCTZ .  Thirty hypertensive subjects over age 60 with a median sitting blood pressure greater than or equal to 95 mm of Hg were recruited into the study . A diastolic blood pressure with treatment of less than 95 mm Hg with a 5 mm Hg or greater decrease from baseline was considered a successful response . RESULTS Nitrendipine decreased mean ( + /- SEM ) blood pressure from 163 + /- 3/102 + /- 1 to 142 + /- 2/89 + /- 2 mm Hg , and HCTZ decreased it from 164 + /- 4/102 + /- 1 to 143 + /- 5/91 + /- 2 mm Hg . A greater proportion of patients had a successful response with nitrendipine ( 81 percent ) than with HCTZ ( 64 percent ) . The antihypertensive effect of nitrendipine twice daily appeared to be sustained for 24 hours . Blood pressure response to exercise was attenuated with both drugs . HCTZ caused gout , leg pains , muscle aches , hypokalemia , increased uric acid levels , and increased total cholesterol and triglyceride levels .  Nitrendipine caused edema and tachycardia . CONCLUSION Nitrendipine significantly reduces blood pressure with few side effects and no adverse metabolic effects , and offers a reasonable alternative for treating hypertension in the elderly
The antihypertensive efficacy of HCTZ in its daily dose of 12.5 to 25 mg as measured in head-to-head studies by ambulatory BP measurement is consistently inferior to that of all other drug classes .
Because outcome data at this dose are lacking , HCTZ is an inappropriate first-line drug for the treatment of hypertension
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy of hydrochlorothiazide ( HCTZ ) by ambulatory blood pressure ( BP ) monitoring .
BACKGROUND HCTZ is the most commonly prescribed antihypertensive drug worldwide .
More than 97 % of all HCTZ prescriptions are for 12.5 to 25 mg per day .
The antihypertensive efficacy of HCTZ by ambulatory BP monitoring is less well defined .