Effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, piroxicam or sulindac, on the antihypertensive actions of propranolol and verapamil.

Author(s): Baez MA, Alvarez CR, Weidler DJ

Affiliation(s): University of Miami, Department of Medicine, FL 33101.

Publication date & source: 1987-12, J Hypertens Suppl., 5(5):S563-6.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

Twenty-five hypertensive patients participated in a randomized placebo-controlled study. After blood pressures were normalized with propranolol or verapamil alone over a 6-week period, patients were entered into a 4-week double-blind period where they received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment (sulindac or piroxicam) or placebo treatment in addition to their antihypertensive therapy. There was a significant elevation in standing systolic blood pressure (P less than 0.05) with propranolol and sulindac, when compared with propranolol and placebo, but no significant changes were shown with propranolol and piroxicam. Systolic blood pressures on sulindac treatment were significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in both supine and standing positions during treatment of hypertension with verapamil compared with propranolol. Both supine systolic and diastolic blood pressures on piroxicam treatment were significantly lower (P less than 0.05) during treatment of hypertension with verapamil compared with propranolol. We conclude that NSAID transiently block the antihypertensive effect of propranolol, causing blood pressures to increase and side effects to improve. However, NSAID do not cause loss of antihypertensive control with verapamil.