Indapamide in the stepped-care treatment of obese hypertensive patients.

A double-blind study was carried out in obese patients with moderately severe hypertension to assess the efficacy and tolerability of 2.5 mg indapamide as a once-a-day Step I drug compared to 50 mg hydrochlorothiazide also as a once-a-day Step I drug; to assess the efficacy and tolerability of a fixed daily dose of 2.5 mg indapamide administered concomitantly with methyldopa starting at 500 mg daily; and to compare the findings of efficacy and tolerability of 2.5mg indapamide daily with those of 50 mg hydrochlorothiazide daily as Step I agents when methyldopa is the Step 2 drug. Twenty-nine patients completed the study and were evaluated. Nine patients achieved the study criterion of reduction of average standing diastolic pressure to 90 mmHg or less when treated with Step I medication only. Twenty patients required the addition of methyldopa to their Step I medication: I0 patients took 2.5 mg indapamide with an average constant daily dose of 1100 mg methyldopa and 10 patients took 50 mg hydrochlorothiazi...