A Combination of Candesartan Cilexetil/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), 8/12.5 mg, has a Similar Antihypertensive Efficacy and is Better Tolerated than Lisinopril/HCTZ, 10/12.5 mg

Monotherapy with an antihypertensive agent is likely to achieve a desirable lowering of blood pressure in about 50% of patients. The remaining proportion of patients are likely to be only partially responsive or unresponsive, even if appropriate dose adjustments are made. For these patients, combination therapy usually leads to better control of hypertension. The aim of this study was to compare the antihypertensive effect and tolerability of a once-daily combination of the angiotensin II type 1 (AT 1 ) receptor blocker candesartan cilexetil, 8 mg, and the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), 12.5 mg, with a combination of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, lisinopril, 10 mg, and HCTZ, 12.5 mg, in patients with primary hypertension. The study included men and women, 20-80 years of age, with sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 95-114 mm Hg. After a run-in period of 2 weeks on any antihypertensive monotherapy, 355 patients were randomized to double-blind treatment with either a combination o...