We compared verapamil and propranolol hydrochloride for monotherapy of hypertension. Verapamil lowered blood pressure (BP) more effectively than propranolol in black and white patients. Verapamil was equally effective in blacks and whites, whereas propranolol was more effective in whites. Heart rate was reduced by 6.0 beats per minute by verapamil, and by 13.6 beats per minute by propranolol. In blacks, verapamil lowered systolic BP 16.9 vs 8.1 mm Hg for propranolol; verapamil reduced diastolic BP 12.8 vs 8.6 mm Hg for propranolol. In whites, verapamil lowered systolic BP 19.0 vs 12.7 mm Hg for propranolol; verapamil reduced diastolic BP 16.7 vs 12.3 mm Hg for propranolol. Increases in systolic BP were observed in 22% and 3.4% of patients receiving propranolol and verapamil, respectively. The PR interval was increased from 163.5 to 174.9 ms for verapamil vs 160.3 to 164.4 ms for propranolol. Constipation (15%) and headaches (10%) were most frequent complaints for verapamil vs fatigue (18%) and dizziness (7%) for propranolol. Changes in blood biochemistry values were of small magnitude. We conclude that verapamil monotherapy is a safe and effective means of achieving BP control in patients with essential hypertension.
Effects of once-daily doses of 50 mg triamterene with 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide and 5 mg amiloride with 50 mg hydrochlorothiazide were compared in a randomized, multicenter study of 84 adult subjects with mild to moderate hypertension (diastolic blood pressure 90 to 114 mm Hg). After a 3-wk placebo lead-in period, the subjects entered a 6-wk treatment period. The two drug regimens were compared with respect to antihypertensive effects and effects on serum potassium and magnesium levels during the final week of drug therapy, with the use of the last week of placebo therapy as a covariate. Both drug regimens substantially reduced mean supine systolic and diastolic blood pressures to well within normal limits; there was no significant difference the two groups. Twenty-four of the 41 subjects receiving triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide (59%) and 29 of the 43 patients receiving amiloride-hydrochlorothiazide (67%) had diastolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg at week 9. Five subjects receiving amiloride-hydrochlorothiazide (12%) and two subjects receiving triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide (5%) had hypokalemia (serum potassium level less than 3.5 mEq/l) at week 9. The average decrease in serum potassium levels during amiloride-hydrochlorothiazide therapy (-0.33 +/- 0.08 mEq/l) was greater than that after triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide (- 0.08 +/- 0.07 mEq/l). Serum magnesium levels were not changed by either regimen. Weight loss was greater in the amiloride-hydrochlorothiazide group than in the triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.