Felodipine ER in the treatment of hypertension.

ABSTRACT

Twenty-two patients with mild to moderate hypertension were treated with felodipine ER 5 mg once daily for the three weeks of treatment at the out patient department. At the end of the three-week period, if diastolic blood pressure still exceeded 90 mmHg, then dose of felodipine ER would be increased to 10 mg/day until the end of the trail (6 weeks). After three and six weeks of treatment, systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced from 164.6+14.6 to 149.4+17.3 and 140.4+14.5 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure also was significantly reduced from 102.8+7.8 to 94.7+7.6 and 91.9+8.4 mmHg, repectively. The responder rate (diastolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg) was 64 percent at the end of the trial. No changes of blood sugar, serum lipid and renal function were observed, but the Na+ level was decreased, and SGOT and SGPT were increased significantly from the pre-treatment level; however, they remained within the normal range. Therefore, felodipine ER is one of the calcium antagonists which is suitable for treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.