ABSTRACT
Felodipine is a calcium channel inhibitor with high vascular selectivity. To studu the effectiveness of felodipine in the treatment of essential hypertension in subjects older than 64 years old, 50 subjects were studied. After a washout period of 4 weeks, subjects received a placebo for 2 weeks followed by the active drug given in an initial dose of 5 mg/day, adjusted to 10 and 20 mg every 21 days if normal blood pressure levels were not attained. Compared to the placebo period, Felodipine treatment reduced blood pressure from 173ñ7.5/102ñ3.3 mm Hg to 158ñ6.3/91ñ4.4 mm Hg. There was no orthostatic reduction of blood pressure and 87 percent of subjects attained systolic and diastolic pressure levels below 140 and 90 mm Hg respectively. Adverse reactions (edema, cephalea and flushing) were reported by 38 percent of subjects and in 3, the drug was discontinued. There were no changes in laboratory parameters during the treatment period. Quality life improved during treatment in the items of concentration, health status perception, mood, physical condition, depression, effects of hypertension on life evets and initiative. Felodipine is effective in the treatment of elders with essential hypertension