Isradipine in Pakistani hypertensive patients

ABSTRACT

Isradipine, a calcium channel blocker, was given to 124 [29 females and 32 males] hypertensive patients for eight weeks after three weeks on placebo treatment. Mean age was 46.5 +/- 0.86 years, mean weight before treatment was 70.04+1-1.2 kg, after treatment it was 69.7 +/- 1.3 Kg, mean height was 154.5 +/- 0.8 cm and mean duration of hypertension was 4.2 +/- 0.31 years. Mean sitting systolic pressure decreased from 164 +/- 1.5 mmHg to 146 +/- 2.19 mmHg [p<.001] while mean sitting diastolic pressure dropped from 106.5 +/- 0.62 mmHg to 93.1 +/- 0.8 mmHg [p<.001]. Mean standing systolic pressure fell from 166 +/- 1.08 mmHg to 147 +/- 1.8 mmHg [p<.01] while erect diastolic pressure fell from 108 +/- 0.6 mmHg to 96.9 +/- 1.7 mmHg [p<.001]. Mean sitting arterial pressure decreased from 125 mmHg to 110 mmHg while standing mean arterial pressure decreased from 127 mmHg to 119 mmHg. No statistically significant fall in heart rate both in supine and standing position was observed. Laboratory results did not show any variation. After eight weeks on active treatment 34% of the patients were taking 1.25 mg B.D while 66% of the patients were on 2.5 mg B.D. Isradipine was found effective and safe in patients with mild to moderate hypertension who tolerated the drug