The effect was similar to that obtained when thiazides are used as a single agent .
Thiazides when given as a second-line drug have a dose related effect to lower blood pressure that is similar to when they are added as a first-line drug .
This means that the BP lowering effect of thiazides is additive .
Loop diuretics appear to have a similar blood pressure lowering effect as thiazides at 1 times the recommended starting dose .
Because of the short duration of the trials and lack of reporting of adverse events , this review does not provide a good estimate of the incidence of adverse effects of diuretics given as a second-line drug
BACKGROUND Diuretics are widely prescribed for hypertension not only as a first-line drug but also as a second-line drug .
Therefore , it is essential to determine the effects of diuretics on blood pressure ( BP ) , heart rate and withdrawals due to adverse effects ( WDAEs ) when given as a second-line drug .
Losartan with hydrochlorothiazide in the treatment of hypertension
Aim : To review the efficacy and safety of losartan and hydrochlorothiazide compared to losartan alone , hydrochlorothiazide alone or placebo in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension in a clinical trial Patients and methods : A r and omly allocated , placebo-controlled , double-blind parallel study was performed in 40 clinical centers throughout the United States . A total of 703 males and females aged 18–75 years with a sitting diastolic blood pressure of 95–115 mmHg entered the trial and 604 completed the 12-week protocol . The participants were r and omly assigned to concomitant therapy once a day with : ( 1 ) 50 mg losartan and 6.25 mg hydrochlorothiazide , ( 2 ) 50 mg losartan and 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide , ( 3 ) 50 mg losartan alone , ( 4 ) 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide alone or ( 5 ) placebo . All participants were followed for 12 weeks Results : At baseline , mean trough sitting diastolic blood pressure was 100.9 - 101.7 mmHg , with no significant difference between treatment groups . Sitting diastolic blood pressure fell 4.0 mmHg with placebo , 7.2 mmHg with 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide , 7.2 mmHg with 50 mg losartan , 9.3 mmHg with 50 mg losartan + 6.25 mg hydrochlorothiazide , and 13.2 mmHg with 50 mg losartan + 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide .  The fall in mean trough sitting systolic blood pressure was 2.4 , 9.3 , 10.7 , 12.0 and 17.9 mmHg for the respective groups . After subtracting the placebo effect , the reductions in blood pressure induced by losartan and hydrochlorothiazide were additive for both sitting diastolic and systolic blood pressures and approximately equaled the reduction seen with the combination of losartan and hydrochlorothiazide . There were no significant differences in adverse events between treatment groups Conclusions : The concomitant administration of 50 mg losartan + 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide produced additive falls in sitting diastolic and systolic blood pressures which were greater than that achieved with either drug alone . On the basis of the adverse effects reported , the combination was well
The effect was similar to that obtained when thiazides are used as a single agent .
Thiazides when given as a second-line drug have a dose related effect to lower blood pressure that is similar to when they are added as a first-line drug .
This means that the BP lowering effect of thiazides is additive .
Loop diuretics appear to have a similar blood pressure lowering effect as thiazides at 1 times the recommended starting dose .
Because of the short duration of the trials and lack of reporting of adverse events , this review does not provide a good estimate of the incidence of adverse effects of diuretics given as a second-line drug
BACKGROUND Diuretics are widely prescribed for hypertension not only as a first-line drug but also as a second-line drug .
Therefore , it is essential to determine the effects of diuretics on blood pressure ( BP ) , heart rate and withdrawals due to adverse effects ( WDAEs ) when given as a second-line drug .