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 .
Felodipine extended release in mild to moderate hypertension.
A multi-centre study was carried out to examine the antihypertensive effect and adverse event profile of felodipine in an extended-release ( ER ) formulation given once daily as monotherapy . Doses of 5 mg , 10 mg or 20 mg felodipine ER were compared with placebo in 183 patients with mild or moderate hypertension . All antihypertensive medication was discontinued on entering a 4-week placebo run-in period . If , at the end of the run-in period , supine diastolic blood pressure was in the range greater than 95 less than 120 mmHg , patients were r and omly allocated to double-blind treatment with felodipine , 5 mg , 10 mg or 20 mg , or placebo , to be taken once daily for 4 weeks . Supine and st and ing blood pressure , heart rate and body weight were measured every 2 weeks during the trial . Assessment s were made 24 hours after intake of the study drug . Adverse events were recorded at each review . Over the 4-week treatment period , a dose-related decrease in supine diastolic blood pressure was observed , this reduction occurring already during the first 2 weeks of active treatment . In the placebo group and the felodipine 5 mg , 10 mg and 20 mg groups , supine blood pressure ( systolic/diastolic ) decreased by 7/6 mmHg , 9/8 mmHg , 12/10 mmHg and 14/11 mmHg , respectively . Supine diastolic blood pressure reduction in the felodipine 10 mg group and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure reductions in the 20 mg group were significantly greater than with placebo . St and ing diastolic blood pressure reduction was significantly greater in all three dose groups on felodipine compared with placebo . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
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 .