Medical treatment of hypertension--what treatment for what patients?
Zidek, W.; Tepel, M.; van der Giet, M.
MMW Fortschritte der Medizin 146(22): 31-34
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1438-3276 PMID: 15373106 Document Number: 568281
The antihypertensive agents of first choice include ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta blockers, calcium antagonists and diuretic agents. For the selection of medicaments, the individual patient risk profile of decisive importance. In particular a metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, disturbed renal function and/or a disturbed electrolyte household must be considered. For initial treatment monotherapy or a low-dose combination regime is suggested. If the response is inadequate, possible options include increasing the dose, changing the medicament, (sequential monotherapy) or, in the sense of stepped treatment, introduction of further combination drugs. Resistance to therapy should prompt consideration of a number of causes, in particular noncompliance on the part of the patient.