Effects of antihypertensive drugs on SBP variability are dose-dependent and persist when used in combinations .
Use of a high dose of a calcium channel blocker alone or in combination with other agents is therefore likely to be particularly effective in prevention of stroke
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Recent studies have shown that visit-to-visit blood pressure variability is a powerful risk factor for stroke , is reduced by calcium channel blockers and diuretics , and increased by β-blockers .
However , it is unknown whether these effects are dose-dependent and persist in combination with other drugs .
The Phase III, double-blind, parallel-group controlled study of amlodipine 10 mg once daily in Japanese patients with essential hypertension who insufficiently responded to amlodipine 5 mg once daily
The objective of this Phase III double-blind parallel-group controlled study was to examine the superiority of amlodipine 10 mg once daily ( the amlodipine 10 mg group ) to amlodipine 5 mg once daily ( the amlodipine 5 mg group ) in 305 Japanese out patients with essential hypertension whose systolic blood pressure ( SBP ) had not reached the therapeutic target levels ( < 130–140/80–90 mm Hg ) when treated with amlodipine 5 mg once daily . This study consisted of the 1-week prescreening , 8-week screening and 8-week double-blind periods . Changes in trough SBP from baseline at week 8 of the double-blind period ( week 8) were −7.0 mm Hg and −13.7 mm Hg in the amlodipine 5 and 10 mg groups , respectively ; a significant difference ( P<0.001 ) was found between the two groups . Changes in trough diastolic blood pressure ( DBP ) from baseline at week 8 were −2.7 mm Hg and −6.8 mm Hg in the amlodipine 5 and 10 mg groups , respectively , with a significant difference ( P<0.001 ) between the two groups . At week 8 , responder rates were 28.5 and 44.0 % in the amlodipine 5 mg and 10 mg groups , respectively , with a significant difference ( P=0.002 ) between the two groups . The amlodipine 10 mg group showed no significant difference in the incidences of adverse events against the amlodipine 5 mg group . The incidence of mild peripheral oedema was 4 % only in the amlodipine 10 mg group . In conclusion , amlodipine 10 mg once daily was found to be superior to amlodipine 5 mg once daily , safe , well tolerated and useful for the relevant subjects
Effects of antihypertensive drugs on SBP variability are dose-dependent and persist when used in combinations .
Use of a high dose of a calcium channel blocker alone or in combination with other agents is therefore likely to be particularly effective in prevention of stroke
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Recent studies have shown that visit-to-visit blood pressure variability is a powerful risk factor for stroke , is reduced by calcium channel blockers and diuretics , and increased by β-blockers .
However , it is unknown whether these effects are dose-dependent and persist in combination with other drugs .