Six normal young and six normal elderly volunteers and six elderly hypertensive patients took part in an acute and chronic dose study of a combination capsule containing atenolol (50 mg), hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg) and amiloride (2.5 mg) designed for the treatment of hypertension. No difference in any of the drug pharmacokinetic parameters could be detected between the hypertensives and the normal elderly subjects. The bio-availability and the 24-h blood concentrations of all three drugs, half-life of atenolol and amiloride and the peak concentration of hydrochlorothiazide was significantly greater in the elderly. The 24-h blood concentrations of atenolol and hydrochlorothiazide did not alter with chronic dosing, but amiloride concentrations were significantly higher at this time in all groups. A significant fall in the blood pressure was observed in the hypertensive group. Heart rate fell more in the normal and hypertensive elderly subjects than in the young. The combination has shown to be an effective and well tolerated antihypertensive in the elderly patient with a 24-h duration of action.
In this comparative bioavailability study in 12 healthy volunteers the blood level profiles and urinary recoveries of both atenolol and chlorthalidone were studied following the administration of the drugs as a fixed combination ('Tenoret 50'), as a free combination, and individually, at doses of 50 mg atenolol and 12.5 mg chlorthalidone. There were no statistically or clinically significant differences between the three treatments of atenolol in terms of individual blood levels, areas under the curve, and urinary excretion. The mean half-lives were between 5 and 7 h, in agreement with other published data. The variation in peak systemic levels is less than that observed for a number of other beta-blocking drugs and is of the same order as seen in other investigations involving atenolol. Thus the bioavailability of atenolol from the fixed combination is equivalent to that from the free combination and from the atenolol tablet. The mean peak blood concentrations of chlorthalidone were 0.94, 1.00, and 0.99 micrograms ml-1 for the fixed and free combinations and the chlorthalidone tablet, respectively. The mean areas under the curve were also similar as were the mean half-lives and urinary recovery. There were no statistically or clinically significant differences between the three treatments. Thus the bioavailability of chlorthalidone from the fixed combination is equivalent to that from the free combination and from the chlorthalidone tablet. It is concluded that combining chlorthalidone and atenolol in a single tablet does not affect the systemic bioavailability of either component.
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