RESUMO
The comparative blood pressure lowering and hemodynamic effects of four types of antihypertensive drugs, i.e.indapamide (diuretic), atenalol (betablocker), verapamil (calcium antagonist), and captopril (converting enzyme inhibitor), were evaluated among 30 middle aged men with mild to moderate essential hypertension in a double-blind randomized multiple crossover study. Blood pressure reduction were comparable regardless of hypotensives used. However atenolol 100 mg once daily also produced significant reduction in exercise-induced rate-pressure product and improved LV compliance echocardiogram indices within 2 weeks. Antihypertensive therapy is lifelong. Thus a daily single dose drug is advantageous for better patient acceptability and compliance during longterm antihypertensive therapy.(Auth)
RESUMO
The purchase of antimicrobial agents in drugstores in a district in Manila. The Philippines was examined in order to determine how these agents might be used. Most antimicrobial agents are imported as bulk products and repackaged by a large number of small firms into 1491 different preparations including 206 marketed as combinations with other drugs. Antimicrobial agents accounted for 20.1% of all drug purchases. Purchases were made without prescription in 66.3% of 1608 transactions. Most of these were aminopenicillins or penicillins G or V (40.0%). The most common perceived indications were respiratory tract infections (20.2%), tuberculosis (8.8%), "prophylaxis" (8.6%) and gastrointestinal infection (8.3%). Almost 90% of purchases were for 10 or less capsules or tablets. The median number of units purchased was 3. Customers with written prescriptions purchased a mean of 8 while those who self-prescribed purchased a mean of 4 units (p = less than 0.05). We believe that these practices can provide only limited clinical efficacy and should favor emergence of resistant bacteria.
