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 .
Improved antihypertensive efficacy of the felodipine-metoprolol extended-release tablet compared with each drug alone.
In this double-blind , r and omised , three-way crossover ( latin square design ) , multicentre study , the aim was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of the fixed combination of felodipine and metoprolol with the individual components as monotherapy . A total of 58 patients with supine diastolic blood pressure of 100 - 115 mmHg were treated with ( 1 ) a fixed combination of felodipine plus metoprolol 5/50 - 10/100 mg ( FM ) , ( 2 ) felodipine 5 - 10 mg ( F ) or ( 3 ) metoprolol 50 - 100 mg ( M ) , for 12 weeks each . All treatments were extended-release formulations administered once daily and blood pressure was measured 24 h after dosing . Dose titration was performed after 6 weeks if diastolic blood pressure was > 90 mmHg . After 12 weeks of active treatment , the mean supine blood pressures were 153/89 , 159/93 and 163/94 mmHg with FM , F and M , respectively . The mean differences in systolic/diastolic blood pressure were -5.6/-3.1 mmHg ( p = 0.007/p = 0.002 ) , -10.2/-4.4 mmHg ( p < 0.0001/p < 0.0001 ) and -4.6/-1.4 mmHg ( p = 0.03/p = 0.15 ) for FM vs F , FM vs M , and F vs M , respectively . Blood pressure control ( supine diastolic blood pressure < or = 90 mmHg ) after 12 weeks was achieved in a significantly greater proportion of patients during treatment with FM than with F or M ; 71 % , 45 % and 40 % were controlled with the respective treatments . With FM , 45 % of the patients were taking the higher dose after 12 weeks of treatment . The corresponding figures for F and M were 60 % and 67 % , respectively . Thirteen of the 58 patients ( 22 % ) were controlled only with FM . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
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 .