The effects of nifedipine and captopril on blood pressure, clinical chemical parameters and general health
Birkebaek, N.H.; Vejby-Christensen, H.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 152(3): 162-164
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 2405556 Document Number: 351118
The anti-hypertensive effects of slowly absorbable nifedipin in doses of 20-40 mg twice daily and 25-50 mg captopril twice daily were investigated in a randomized cross-over trial on 19 patients with slight to moderate hypertension. Both of these preparations caused significant reduction in the diastolic blood pressure (BT) measured two and 12 hours after the last dose. Nifedipin caused 5% reduction of the diastolic blood pressure measured 12 hours after the last dose more frequently than did captopril. Where both preparations were concerned, the blood pressure measured two hours after the last intake of medicine was significantly lower than after 12 hours. Neither of the two anti-hypertensive preparations resulted in changes in the clinical-chemical variables measured here. No changes in weight of over 5% were observed. Treatment with nifedipin frequently resulted in headache and flushing during the first days of treatment. Three of the patients did not wish to continue nifedipin treatment and one did not wish to continue captopril treatment after the period of observation. Six patients experienced considerably improved general health during captopril treatment and three during nifedipin as compared with their condition prior to treatment.