Efficacy of felodipine in hypertensive patients

ABSTRACT

Thirty two patients were put on calcium channel blocker felodipine, a dihydopyridine derivative, for twelve weeks, after two weeks on placebo treatment, either alone or in combination with other antihypertensive drugs. Mean sitting systolic pressure decreased from 168 +/- 3.1 mmHg to 138.5 +/- 2.18 mmHg while sitting diastolic pressure decreased from 105 +/- 0.8 mmHg to 89 +/- 1.06 mmHg. Mean standing systolic pressure decreased from 162 +/- 3.2 mmHg to 141 +/- 3.4 mmHg and mean standing diastolic pressure decreased from 107 +/- 0.9 mmHg to 92 +/- 1.4 mmHg. Mean arterial pressure decreased from 125 mmHg to 108 mmHg. Mean pulse rate in sitting position decreased from 94/min to 89/min while drop in mean sanding pulse rate was from 103/min to 98/min. There was not much change in pulse rate. Laboratory results remained almost the same before and after treatment. Felodipine was found effective in decreasing blood pressure either alone or combination with other drugs