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 .
A comparison of the efficacy of cilazapril versus cilazapril plus hydrochlorothiazide in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension
Summary The efficacy of cilazapril monotherapy and in combination with hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg was compared in a multicentre , double blind , r and omised parallel group study in 87 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension over 8 weeks . After a 2 week single blind placebo run-in period , patients received either 2.5 mg cilazapril or 2.5 mg cilazapril plus 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide once daily . At Week 4 the cilazapril dose was increased from 2.5 mg to 5.0 mg if the mean sitting diastolic blood pressure was greater than 90 mmHg or had not decreased by more than 10 mmHg . After 8 weeks treatment 72 % of patients responded to 2.5 mg cilazapril increasing to 88 % with cilazapril 5.0 mg . For cilazapril plus hydrochlorothiazide , 83 % responded to 2.5 mg cilazapril increasing to 96 % on 5.0 mg cilazapril . The high response rate to low dose cilazapril monotherapy and hydrochlorothiazide combination therapy has important implication s for minimising the cost of therapy with ACE inhibitors
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 .