A randomised comparative trial of nicardipine versus amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide in mild to moderate hypertension. A report from the General Practitioner Hypertension Study Group.

Author(s): Gostick NK, Mayhew SR, Mukerji D, Bradley I, Ganvir P, Shepherd F, Davis A, MacKay D, Hopwood AM

Affiliation(s): Medical Department, Syntex Pharmaceuticals Limited, Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK.

Publication date & source: 1989-04, J Hum Hypertens., 3(2):141-4.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

In 1984 the General Practitioner Hypertension Study Group undertook a rescreening of their patient population, looking for patients who still had untreated mild to moderate essential hypertension. Suitable patients were entered into a clinical trial comparing the safety and efficacy of nicardipine (a calcium antagonist) and amiloride + hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) (moduretic). The study included one year of long-term follow-up. Both drugs significantly lowered BP in both the short and long term. Numbers and percentages of patients from each group reporting adverse experiences were similar in the short term, but in the long term the frequency of adverse event reporting was much lower with nicardipine treatment than with amiloride + HCTZ treatment (2/10 versus 9/17). Treatment with amiloride + HCTZ led to elevations in serum levels of cholesterol, uric acid and urea, which were maintained at one year, whilst no abnormalities in blood biochemistry were seen in patients treated with nicardipine. In conclusion we have found that nicardipine compares very favourably with amiloride + HCTZ in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertensive patients.