Diuretics are preferred first-line over CCBs to optimize reduction of cardiovascular events .
The review does not distinguish between CCBs , ACE inhibitors or ARBs , but does provide evidence supporting the use of CCBs over beta-blockers .
BACKGROUND Calcium channel blockers ( CCBs ) are a relatively new antihypertensive class .
The effect of first-line CCBs on the prevention of cardiovascular events , as compared with other antihypertensive drug classes , is unknown .
OBJECTIVES To determine whether CCBs used as first-line therapy for hypertension are different from other first-line drug classes in reducing the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events .
A comparison of the acute hypotensive effects of two different doses of nifedipine.
To determine whether a dose of 5 mg of nifedipine would be useful in the treatment of hypertensive emergencies , we compared the acute hypotensive effects of two different doses of nifedipine , 5 mg and 10 mg , in patients with severe hypertension . In this prospect i ve , r and omized , double-blind study , 30 consecutive black patients with diastolic blood pressure that was equal to or greater than 115 mm Hg received either a 5 mg or 10 mg nifedipine capsule and a placebo capsule , which matched that of the alternative strength . Patients were asked to bite the capsules and swallow the contents . Blood pressure response over 4 hours and adverse effects were monitored . Mean systolic blood pressure was reduced from 191.7 mm Hg ( 95 % confidence interval 170.8 to 212.7 mm Hg ) to 157.9 mm Hg ( 137.0 to 178.9 mm Hg ) and 206.1 mm Hg ( 185.1 to 227.0 mm Hg ) to 153.7 mm Hg ( 132.8 to 174.7 mm Hg ) in patients who were given 5 mg and 10 mg doses of nifedipine , respectively . Mean diastolic blood pressure in the group of patients that received 5 mg doses of nifedipine decreased from 128.2 mm Hg ( 115.6 to 140.7 mm Hg ) to 105.2 mm Hg ( 92.7 to 117.7 mm Hg ) ; the corresponding values in the group that received 10 mg doses of nifedipine were 129.9 mm Hg ( 117.4 to 142.5 mm Hg ) and 97.5 mm Hg ( 85.0 to 110.1 mm Hg ) , respectively . The minimum mean systolic blood pressures occurred 20 and 25 minutes after administration of the 5 mg and 10 mg capsules , respectively ; the minimum diastolic blood pressures were reached after 20 and 30 minutes , respectively . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
Diuretics are preferred first-line over CCBs to optimize reduction of cardiovascular events .
The review does not distinguish between CCBs , ACE inhibitors or ARBs , but does provide evidence supporting the use of CCBs over beta-blockers .
BACKGROUND Calcium channel blockers ( CCBs ) are a relatively new antihypertensive class .
The effect of first-line CCBs on the prevention of cardiovascular events , as compared with other antihypertensive drug classes , is unknown .
OBJECTIVES To determine whether CCBs used as first-line therapy for hypertension are different from other first-line drug classes in reducing the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events .