Evaluation of efficacy and safety of losartan potassium in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension as compared to enalapril maleate.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To study the effect of losartan potassium in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension and to compare its efficacy and adverse effect profile with enalaparil maleate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and forty five patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension were enrolled in this randomized, double blind, controlled, parallel and multicentric study. Seventy two patients received losartan potassium 50 mg and seventy three received enalapril maleate 5 mg. RESULTS: Losartan potassium reduced the DBP to < 90 mm Hg in 59% of the patients at the end of 8 weeks compared to 45% in the enalapril maleate group. DBP was reduced by 10 or > than 10 mm Hg in 89% of the patients with losartan as compared to the baseline whereas it was 80% in the enalapril group. Percentage of side effects seen in losartan and enalapril groups were 12 and 22 respectively. CONCLUSION: Losartan potassium is an efficacious antihypertensive agent in mild to moderate hypertension. It also has fewer side effects when compared to enalapril maleate.