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 .
Moxonidine and hydrochlorothiazide in combination: a synergistic antihypertensive effect.
This study was design ed as a multicenter , double-blind , placebo-controlled , parallel-group , prospect ively r and omized study comparing , after a 4-week placebo run-in phase , moxonidine 0.4 mg once daily ( o.d . ) , hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg o.d . , and the combination of the two with placebo . A total of 160 patients were analyzed in an intent-to-treat analysis . Moxonidine 0.4 mg o.d . was effective in significantly lowering blood pressure in this group of mild-to-moderate hypertensive patients in comparison with placebo . The efficacy and the side-effect profile of moxonidine were comparable to those of the first-line antihypertensive agent hydrochlorothiazide . The combination of moxonidine and hydrochlorothiazide in the same dosage as a monotherapy improves efficacy significantly without additive effects on the safety profile . Response rate after monotherapies was calculated with 70.3 and 70.0 % , respectively , after combination treatment in 87.8 % of all patients in the treatment group . The trial gives support to a recommended dosage regimen of moxonidine 0.4 mg o.d . This profile of moxonidine is highly comparable to a st and ard first-line antihypertensive drug such as hydrochlorothiazide , without sacrificing tolerance and safety for increased efficacy , in combination with hydrochlorothiazide
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 .