Efficacy of low-dose hydrochlorothiazide in combination with telmisartan on early morning blood pressure in uncontrolled hypertensive patients.

Author(s): Makita S, Abiko A, Naganuma Y, Tamada M, Nakamura M

Affiliation(s): Department of Internal Medicine, Unit of Cardiology and Memorial Heart Center, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Uchimaru, Morioka, Japan. makitas@seagreen.ocn.ne.jp

Publication date & source: 2009-04, Clin Exp Hypertens., 31(2):105-15.

Publication type: Comparative Study; Randomized Controlled Trial

Hypertensive patients whose BP was uncontrolled despite the use of antihypertensive agents, including an ARB (candesartan 8 mg/day or valsartan 80 mg/day), were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to combination therapy with telmisartan 40 mg/day (changed from current ARB) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5 mg/day (T + H, n = 32) or to no change in their current drug regimen (CTL, n = 32). The observation period was 12 weeks. The office and home BPs were significantly reduced in the T + H compared to those in the CTL. A sufficient and long-acting BP lowering effect, as reflected in decreased early morning BP, was obtained with the combination of low-dose HCTZ and telmisartan without apparent metabolic deterioration.