Felodipine extended release in mild to moderate hypertension

SummaryA multi-centre study was carried out to examine the antihypertensive effect and adverse event profile of felodipine in an extended-release (ER) formulation given once daily as monotherapy. Doses of 5 mg, 10 mg or 20 mg felodipine ER were compared with placebo in 183 patients with mild or moderate hypertension. All antihypertensive medication was discontinued on entering a 4-week placebo run-in period. IJ at the end of the run-in period, supine diastolic blood pressure was in the range >95⁢120 mmHg, patients were randomly allocated to double-blind treatment with felodipine, 5 mg, 10 mg or 20 mg, or placebo, to be taken once daily for 4 weeks. Supine and standing blood pressure, heart rate and body weight were measured every 2 weeks during the trial. Assessments were made 24 hours after intake of the study drug. Adverse events were recorded at each review. Over the 4-week treatment period, a dose-related decrease in supine diastolic blood pressure was observed, this reduction occurring already during...